Sci-Five: The Hindu Science Quiz: On Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence is a form of chemiluminescence, which is the production of visible light by a chemical reaction in living organisms.

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Luciferin and luciferase are the two chemicals that must be present for an organism to luminesce.

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Scientists do not yet understand the full purpose or function of this specialised adaptation or how it evolved. However, it can help animals locate food, defend against or warn predators, hide from predators, attract or detect prey, attract mates, and communicate.

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Some species of squid and deep sea fishes have photophores concentrated on the underside of their bodies. Scientists believe this helps to make the animals less visible to predators viewing them from below as the light blends in with the speckled, dim light from above. This form of camouflage is called counter-illumination.

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Bioluminescence is most commonly blue-green, probably because the short wavelengths of blue and green light travel longer distance in the sea. Other animals emit red light. More unusual is the glowing yellow fluid that the gossamer worm releases.

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