Bioluminescence is the term used when describing an organism’s ability to produce and emit light. This is a very common feature found in many marine animals and can be used for various things. Some theories suggest animals use it as a way to attract mates, while others say they use it to ward off predators or to lure their prey to them. There are not so many examples of bioluminescence found on land, but it is apparent in some mushrooms. But what is it that is enabling them to glow in the dark and why? Scientists may now have the answer.
The phenomenon of bioluminescence has been around for a very long time and was observed by both Aristotle in 382BC and the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder 300 years later. They described the glowing light of fungal bioluminescence when they described the effects of the cold fire of damp wood. It was also noted in the famous book by Mark Twain, ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ where it was used to light up a tunnel.
This bioluminescence fungus can be found in many varieties of mushrooms and fungi on land and the reasons why each of them glow may vary, but the most likely explanation is that the night light attracts insects and other animals to the fungi, and the spores are then spread further a field. Research scientists at the Sao Paulo University in Brazil demonstrated this by using plastic mushrooms that contained LED lights to scatter around the forest to attract the creatures. Lead researcher, Cassius Stevani matched the luminosity and other features of the LED light to the bioluminescence of a type of mushroom that is known to grow at the base of palm trees in order to attract the right type of creatures to spread the spores.
During their research, the team also managed to dispel the theory that bioluminescence is simply useless by-product as they found this process only occurs at night. But, that is only one part of the equation. The other mystery to be solved was how the mushrooms and other fungi were able to produce the bioluminescence, and that is what a team led by Ilia Yampolsky of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry in Moscow set out to do.
The took the approach of first examining those mushrooms that did not glow in the dark as it was more likely the precursor of the bioluminescence protein, luciferin, would be found here. They discovered the luciferin is about 100 times more abundant in luminous species. Although luciferin in itself is not a discovery, this particular strain is, and this could mean a huge breakthrough for science. This revolutionary revelation will allow the creation of autonomously luminescent plants that would be able to biosynthesis luciferin by themselves.
One the species of fish that we could learn from with their bioluminescence features are deep-sea angler fish, which use bioluminescent bacteria in the tip of an appendage that hovers over its mouth to warn off attackers. Another couple is the dinoflagellates which are little plankton with some serious glowing capabilities, and more commonly, fireflies. All of these species use this phenomenon as a way of protection to some degree, all while displaying a beautiful display of luminous colors.
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