Bioluminescence Essay

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Bioluminescence is the production of light from an organism by a chemical reaction. (all authors) It is utilized by terrestrial and marine organisms, for predatorial, attractive, protective, communicative, and identification advantages. (first one) The cookie-cutter shark utilizes an illuminated underside to attract prey. (first) Bioluminescence can create a strong flash of light for protection against a predator. Bioluminescence is a primarily marine phenomenon. In contrast, bioluminescence is essentially absent (with a few exceptions) in fresh water, even in Lake Baikal. On land it is most commonly seen as glowing fungus on wood (called foxfire), or in some luminous insects. The light intensity is usually highest at night and lowest during …show more content…

Bioluminescence is found in many marine organisms including, bacteria, algae, jellyfish, worms, crustaceans, sea stars, fish, and shark. Animals take in bacteria or other bioluminescent creatures to gain the ability to light up, or the animal contains the chemicals necessary for the reaction that produces bioluminescence. The metabolic reaction that combines the oxygen with a reducing substance (luciferin) liberates sufficient energy to excite a molecule in the organism to emit visible radiation. Among crustaceans, luminous species are especially remarkable in the copepods, shrimps, and ostracods. Some shrimps (Hoplophorus) emit a luminous secretion from luminous organs, while others possess true light organs (photophores), which consist of a lens, reflector, and light-emitting photogenic cells. Bioluminescence occurs through a chemical reaction that produces light energy within an organism's body. A species must contain luciferin which produces light when it reacts with oxygen, produces light. There are different types of luciferin, which vary depending on the organism hosting the reaction, and sometimes utilize the catalyst luciferase, which helps to speed up the

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