SATARUPA DEB

Photinus pyralis (fire fly) glowing in the dark.

Bioluminescent organisms of the oceans.

1. It has been quite fascinating for me to find out ‘why humans cannot glow ‘ like the adorable fireflies observed in an open field at night.

2. To know and also share about the wonderful creatures at the bottom of the ocean, who combat with their dark surrounding by their extraordinary capability of ‘producing light’.

Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, micro-organisms and terrestrial invertebrates. Some symbiotic organisms carried within larger organisms also produce light.

The French pharmacologist Raphaël Dubois carried out early work on bioluminescence.

Bioluminescence is a form of luminescence, or "cold light emission”. It should not be confused with incandescence , structural colouration, phosphorescence.

Many perhaps most deep-sea animals produce light.

Most marine light-emission is in the blue and green light spectrum, the wavelengths that pass furthest through seawater.

Non-marine bioluminescence is less widely distributed. The two best-known forms of land bioluminescence are fireflies and glow worms. Other insects, annelids, arachnids and even species of fungi have been noted to possess bioluminescent abilities.

Some forms of bioluminescence are brighter (or exist only) at night, following a circadian rhythm.

Bioluminescent star fish Bioluminescent Jelly fish Bioluminescent alga

Bioluminescent squid Bioluminescent Brittle star Bioluminescent coral

SELF LUMINESCENCE SECONDARY LUMINESCENCE

Bioluminescent Jelly Fish Angler Fish

1. In order for this reaction to occur, a chemical named “Luciferin”, which emits light, is required.

2. First, luciferin bind with an enzyme “luciferase”. This enzyme acts as a catalyst to speed up the reaction.

3. Then, oxygen is needed to oxidize the reaction.4. As a result of this chemical reaction, energy is released in a form of light due

to energy from the excitation of the electrons in the ions. The photons of visible light produced is about 50 kcal.

Luciferins (from the Latin lucifer, "light-bringer") are a class of light -emitting heterocyclic compounds found in organisms that cause bioluminescence.

Firefly Luciferin

Latia Luciferin of bioluminescent snails.

Coelenterazine

Space-filled model of firefly Luciferin.

TYPES OF REACTIONS

1. LH2 + O2 Light

2. Pre-LH2 LH2 + O2Light

3. L+ NADPH LH2 + O2 Light

4. LH2+ H2O2 Light

5. P + Calcium/ Hydrogen ion Light.

EXAMPLES

Cypridina(Mollusc)

Photinus (firefly)

Some bacteria and fungi.

Balanoglossus(Prochordata)

Aequorea

WHAT IS THE NEED FOR BIOLUMINESCENCE?

1. As a sign of danger: A number of dino-flagellates show off their ability to produce light only at times of attack by other species. This light emitted from their body serves to protect them from being disturbed by other marine animals.

BLACK DRAGON FISH

Bioluminescence in black dragon fish.

2. For distraction: Certain squid and small crustaceans use bioluminescent chemical mixtures or bacterial slurries in the same way as many squid use ink in order to distract their enemies.

A crustacean spilling blue bioluminescent ink.

3. Attracting mates:- The attraction of mates is seen actively in fireflies as well as in ostracods, which use periodic flashing in their abdomens to attract mates in the mating season. Pheromones may be used for long-distance communication among individuals of a species.

4. Communication :- Communication plays a role in the regulation of luminesencein many species of bacteria and also in fireflies. Using small extracellularlysecreted molecules, they turn on genes for light production only at high cell densities.

5. Mimicry:- The cookiecutter shark uses bioluminescence to camouflage its underside, but a small patch near its pectoral fins remains dark, appearing as a small fish to large predatory fishes.

Bioluminescence is used as a lure to attract prey by several deep sea fish such as the anglerfish.

Cookiecutter shark

HOW CAN WE MAKE USE OF BIOLUMINESCENT CHEMICALS FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT?

Autoluminograph of a genetically engineered glowing tobacco plant

Luciferase systems are widely used in the field of genetic engineering as reporter genes.

Engineered bioluminescence could perhaps one day be used to reduce the need for street lighting, or for decorative purposes.

Scientists are researching the use of genetically engineered bioluminescent E. coli bacteria, for use in a bio bulb.

The gene that makes firefly's tails glow has been added to mustard plants. The plants glow faintly for an hour when touched, but a sensitive camera is needed to see the glow.

WHY HUMANS CANNOT GLOW IN THE DARK LIKE FIREFLIES??????

REFERENCES

1 . Rastogi, S.C. (2008), Effector Organs, Bioluminescence (18.10), Essentials of Animal Physiology, Pp- 395-399, New Age International (P) Limited Publishers, New Delhi- 110002.

2.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioluminescence

3.http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrB8pK7pw1TvSoAdgeLuLkF?p=bioluminescent+animals&ei=utf-8&fr=sfp-img&fr2=&y=Search

4. http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/all-about-animals/bioluminescence.htm

5. http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/all-about-animals/bioluminescence3.htm

6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDkSDPgrtjs (Ted Talk –Lecture Delivered by Edith Widder, American oceanographer, marine biologist, and the Co-founder, CEO and Senior Scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association.)

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKjFVBVGad0 (Animation by Leslie Kenna).

8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16mLKLajfNE (Explanation by Jesse He)

9. Bioluminescence Questions and Answers. Siobiolum.ucsd.edu. Retrieved on 20 October 2011. (http://siobiolum.ucsd.edu/Biolum_q&a.html)

THANK YOU!