Bioluminescence, the Light of Life Quiz

Answer: true

Most bioluminescent organisms can be found in the deep ocean.

Answer: a firefly

The firefly is a member of the insect order, Coleoptera. These are beetles. Yes, the firefly is a beetle, not a true fly! This is because if you look at a firefly's back you will notice that they have a "T" on their exoskeleton. Also, a firefly's wings are not as triangular as a fly's wings. What this means is that a beetle's wings are more oval in shape and as long as the thorax.

A fly's wings are triangular in shape and the length is not as long as the thorax.

Answer: light

Organisms produce bioluminescence through chemical reactions in a specific part of their anatomy.

Answer: false

There are some plants and bacteria that also produce bioluminescence reactions. There are a species of deep sea fish known as "flashlight" fish. The fish have pockets below their eyes in which they house colonies of bioluminescent bacteria. These two organisms live in a symbiotic relationship in which the bacteria receive shelter and food from the fish.

The fish receives the benefits from the glow put out by the bacteria which allows the fish to find a mate and food in the deep, dark ocean.

Answer: all of these

Glowworms found in the Caves of Waitomo in New Zealand spin long, sticky, glowing threads to capture other insects to "invite" them for dinner!

Answer: Luciferin and Luciferase

All bioluminescent organisms use these chemicals to produce a bioluminescent reaction. The structure of these molecules is what distinguishes one species from another. Fireflies are harvested by the organic biochemical industry for luciferin to use in scientific research.

Some may be put off by the chemicals' names but the "lucifer" in the names has no religious bearing. "Lucifer" is actually derived from Middle English and means "light bearer".

Answer: false

Actually luciferin is used as a receptor gene to ensure that a gene has been inserted into a bacteria plasmid. Luciferin is also added to blood at blood banks to detect viability of the red blood cells. As the cells age, they break down and release adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into the blood.

The ATP then reacts with the added luciferin and the blood will glow in the dark. There is even evidence that the luciferin gene can be added to cancer cells. This then causes the cancer cells to produce their own light which triggers their own death!

Answer: adenosine monophosphate (AMP)

The amount of ATP that is broken down into AMP is what determines the amount of light produced. Oxygen along with luciferin, Mg+2 ions, and ATP are requirements for a bioluminescence reaction to occur.
AMP + oxyluciferin + PPi (inorganic pyrophosphate) + H2O + light = the by-products. Potassium ferricyanide is a compound that can oxidize a chemiluminescent reaction when mixed with Luminol. You know, the stuff police use to determine if there is blood on surfaces. This reaction does produce luminescence but it is not a bioluminescent light.

Answer: true

Why mess with a recipe handed down from Mother Nature? She created a highly efficient method of producing light.

Answer: false

Bioluminescent light is much more efficient as a light because most of the energy lost in the reaction is lost as photons (light) but in the incandescent light reaction almost 90% of the energy lost is as heat and only approximately 10% lost as light.