How Does Bioluminescence Work?

The light that a firefly creates is the result of a combination of four different ingredients. This
light is produced through a chemical reaction involving Luciferin, which is a substrate,
Luciferase, an enzyme, ATP, and oxygen (3). The light producing section of the body is located
in the sixth or seventh abdominal section of the firefly. It is within this cavity that the two
compounds Luciferin and Luciferase are stored. A firefly will draw oxygen in through its
complex system of air tubes and expose the oxygen to the Luciferin and the Luciferin will then
oxidize and activate the Luciferase. This will generate a light that will shine through the skeleton
of the abdomen. It is important to note that scientists disagree about the method that the fireflies
use to control the duration of their flashes. One theory, known as the "Oxygen Control Theory",
explains that fireflies can control the length and duration of their light by regulating the amount
of oxygen that they intake (3). If little or no oxygen reaches the part of the firefly known as the
phonic organ, the chemical reaction will not be extremely strong and the light of the firefly will
not shine very brightly or for a lengthy duration (3). Another theory, known as the "Neural
Activation Theory" states that fireflies have neural control over the activity of structures called
"tracheal end cells" (3). These structures aid in the initiation of the chemical reaction. Whether or
not the fireflies have physical or neural control over their ability to produce light, their method of
creating the light that emanates from their bodies is extremely efficient. Very little heat is given
off of this light which means that not very much energy is wasted at all. This "cold light" has a
96% efficiency rating; which, when compared to an incandescent light that has only 10%
efficiency, is rather impressive (3).

How Useful is Bioluminescence?

Christopher Contag, a bioluminescence researcher a Stanford University began to think more

about this glow-in-the-dark idea and developed a way to utilize the process that occurs in
fireflies when doing research about living tissue. This is because fireflies create light due to a
chemical reaction that depends on the presence of ATP. If ATP is present in a sample of
something, that is a good indication that life is occurring within that specimen (4). NASA has
considered using this method to test for life on other planets. If these firefly compounds were
mixed with samples and they produced a glowing reaction, that would mean that the presence of
ATP would be highly likely. Biologists are also using this approach to fight Tuberculosis. If the
enzyme Luciferase is added to a cultured sample of Tuberculosis and an antibiotic is also added,
the strength of the antibiotic can be tested. If the drug fails, then the bacteria will continue to
thrive and glow. This method enables researches and doctors to cut the time needed for drug
treatments to just three days instead of three months (4). This research has also been employed in
gene activation therapy cases, where ultraviolet cameras seek out genes treated with Luciferase.
If light is visible, this means that the Luciferase gene is active. This will help researchers to
know when they have made a successfully attempt a gene therapy. "This is a powerful approach
for looking at any number of biological phenomena, because you can study gene regulation in a
living animal over time, in superficial or deep tissues," said Contag (4). There is enormous
potential for this type of research.

There are many forms of life in this world. There is also an incredible range of diversity among
the kinds of living organisms that roam the earth. Although there is still a lot that we do not
know about bioluminescence and fireflies, we do know that the findings of the experiments with
Luciferin, Luciferase, and ATP can lead scientists to new and exciting discoveries. I never knew
that the fireflies that make up my favorite memories from childhood would be helping to save so
many lives.

WWW Sources

1)The Bioluminesence Web Page , @ UCSB

2)The Fire Fly Files , By Branham, Mark.

3)Nature Bulletin 27 Forest Preserve District Cook County , By Clayton Smith, President.

4)Living mice glow when genes turn onTim Stephens The Stanford Online Journal

Continuing conversation
(to contribute your own observations/thoughts, post a comment below)

12/11/2005, from a Reader on the Web

Well this might sound weird,but the only reason I got to your page is because of a song, by Peter
Frampton, "Baby I love your way" in which he wonders how fireflies are able to shine, and that
got me wondering too. I found your article extremely helpful and informative for someone like
myself thats not a a student of the art. And to my suprise, that the ability to shine helps discover
new life and research. I thank you for the chance to read such great article, and most likely be
back to read some more. Sincerely

Additional comments made prior to 2007

The paragraph was very informative though all the other search results in one way or the other
speak along the same line of how helful the biolumn. can be for research of diseases et al. But
my question is how far are we from reproducing the exact same chemical combination in real life
to substitute the bulbs and other light appliances around us in our daily life ? I've read that
around 90 % of the energy in light bulbs are lost in the form of heat while biolums. gets you
more than 95% energy efficiency.

I'm very curious. Please let me know ... Rakesh, 3 March 2006