THE BEAUTY OF

BIOLUMINESCENCE
ABC

WHAT IS IT?

Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction that

falls under the category of
chemiluminescence
Mostly consists of marine animals including
fish, bacteria, and jellyfish

HOW IT HAPPENS

Requires 2 unique chemicals: Lucuferin and either

lucuferase or protein.
Lucuferin (meaning light) produces the actual light
The color of the light results from the
arrangement of luciferin molecules

Bacterial luciferin

HOW IT WORKS

Luciferase is an enzyme that interacts with a

substrate to affect the rate of a chemical
reaction

When luciferase interacts with oxidized

luciferin it creates oxyluciferin which is the
chemical reaction that creates light

WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

In the wild bioluminescence is generally used

for attracting a mate, attracting prey, and
deterring predators

HOW WE CAN USE

BIOLUMINESCENCE

There are many projects which are trying to

genetically modify plants to be bioluminescent in
order to conserve energy and promote an ecofriendly life style