Bioluminescence Research Project
Published on Mar 16, 2016
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
BIOLUMINESCENCE
- The production and emission of light by a living organism
- Not the same as fluorescence or phosphorescence
Photo by tolomea
OCCURENCES
- Occurs mostly in marine organisms
- Nearly nonexistent is freshwater.
- Found on land in fireflies, slugs, earthworms, and fungus.
Photo by angela7dreams
DIFFERENT SYSTEMS
- Bacterial
- Dinoflagellate
- Vargula
- Coelentarazine
- Firefly
MARINE ORGANISMS
- Bioluminescence is a primarily marine phenomenon
- Hundreds of types of luminous animals in the sea
- Primary source of light in the deep, dark ocean
CHEMICAL MAKE UP
- Two Chemicals are required to make the chemical reaction
- Luciferin
- Luciferase
REACTION STAGES
- Starts with luciferin and oxygen
- Chemical are catalyze do by the luciferase
- Creates light and the inactive oxyluciferin
OTHER CHEMICAL FACTS
- Sometimes luciferin, luciferase, and oxygen form a single unit called a "photo protein"
- This molecule can be triggered to produce light when a certain ion is added(usually calcium)
MORE CHEMICAL FACTS
- Some bioluminescence is effected by the amount of sunlight the previous day.
- Bioluminescence is a "cold light." Less than 20% emits thermal radiation.
Photo by angela7dreams
FUNCTIONS OF BIOLUMINESCENCE
- Defense -
- Misdirection
- Startling predators
- Burglar alarms
- Warning flashes
FUNCTION OF BIOLUMINESCENCE
- Offense -
- Luring prey (angler fish)
- Stunning/confusing prey
- Illuminating prey
EXPERIMENTAL USES
- Bioluminescent trees to replace street lamps
- Reduce electricity cost and use
- Reduce cost of crops by making them light up when they need to be watered/harvested
STILL IN DEVELOPMENT
- Biologists and engineers are studying bioluminescence to understand how they can use it to better society
FUN FACTS
- Sailors seeing glowing waves behind boats
- Sperm whales use bioluminescence
