Bioluminescent
Bioluminescent
Bioluminescent (pronunciation: /ˌbīōˌlo͞oməˈnes(ə)nt/) is a term used to describe organisms that produce and emit light. The term is derived from the Greek words "bios" meaning life and "lumen" meaning light.
Etymology
The term "bioluminescent" is derived from the Greek "bios" (life) and Latin "lumen" (light). It was first used in the late 19th century to describe the phenomenon of living organisms producing light.
Definition
Bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescence that takes place inside an organism. The light is produced as a result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted into light energy. The reaction often involves a light-emitting molecule and an enzyme, commonly referred to as luciferin and luciferase respectively.
Related Terms
- Luciferin: A light-emitting compound found in organisms that exhibit bioluminescence.
- Luciferase: An enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin, leading to light emission.
- Chemiluminescence: The emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction.
- Photoprotein: A type of protein, found in several bioluminescent organisms, that emits light when it binds to a particular molecule.
Applications
Bioluminescence has many applications in different fields such as biology, medicine, and environmental science. For instance, it is used in biological research to study cellular processes, in medical diagnostics to detect specific molecules in body fluids, and in environmental monitoring to detect pollution.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bioluminescent
- Wikipedia's article - Bioluminescent
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