What is bioluminescence?
Q: What is bioluminescence?
A: Bioluminescence is the production of light by living things.
Q: How does bioluminescence work?
A: Bioluminescence works through chemical processes, where the energy produced is released as visible light.
Q: What organisms produce bioluminescent light?
A: Eukaryote protists have special organelles that produce bioluminescent light, and some bacteria also produce this type of light.
Q: Where did the capacity to produce bioluminescent light come from?
A: The capacity to produce bioluminecsent light is an extension of normal metabolism; all chemical reactions naturally produce a few photons, and when photon production increases, visible light can be seen.
Q: What was the original function of producing bioluminenscent light in bacteria?
A: The original function of producing bioluminenscent light in bacteria was likely to detoxify excessive oxygen.
Q: What are luciferin and luciferase?
A: Luciferin and luciferase are components involved in the reaction between ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) and oxygen that produces a highly chemiluminescent (brightly shining) compound.
