Applications of firefly Bioluminescence

Luciferin and luciferase are not particular molecules. They are generic terms for a light-producing chemical and it is usually a protein. Luciferase can be produced in the laboratory through genetic techniques, and has a wide variety of uses. 

Genes for luciferase can be genetically engineered into organisms so that they glow when exposed to luciferin. This allows visualization of certain biological processes, stages of infection, and provides other valuable sources of information.

Mice, silkworms, and potatoes are just a few organisms that have already been engineered to produce the chemical.

Luciferase can be used in blood banks to determine if red blood cells are starting to break down.

 We can genetically engineer Christmas trees to glow without lights, using luciferase. Luciferin would be added to a fertilizer used for the tree, which would react with the luciferase  so that the tree can produce its own light.

Luciferase is a protein and works in a completely different way. It converts chemical energy to visible light. Some of that energy comes from ATP, the chemical that all cells use to drive their energy, the other part of the energy involved in the glow comes from a complex molecule called a luciferin.

Plants cannot make this luciferin and we don't know how fireflies make luciferin. We can genetically inject luciferin into the trees on the roadside. The trees will glow in the dark. Thus we can cut down the expenditure on street lighting. Similarly, trees in the parks and garden can be genetically engineered with the compound luciferin so that trees can glow during the night time.

Two scientists Mathew Maye and Rabeka Alam are using nanotechnology to harness the natural bioluminescence of fireflies in order to create lighting that does not need any energy to glow! By using nanotechnology, the team believes that they can create a natural bioluminescent lighting system that is 20 to 30 times more efficient.

According to Mathew Maye and Rabeka Alam, size and structure of custom, quantum Nano- rods hold the key. They are harnessing the chemical reaction between luciferin and its counterpart, the enzyme luciferase which causes the fireflies to glow. The team attached the manipulated luciferase enzyme to the surface of the Nano rod allowing it to act as a fuel. The energy that was released when the fuel and the enzyme interacted, it was then transferred to the Nano-rods, causing them to glow. This process is known as Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET).

The Nano-rods are composed of an outer shell of cadmium sulphide and an inner core of cadmium selenite and by manipulating the size of the core, and the length of the rod, then they were able to alter the colour of the produced light. Nano rods will become a substitute for LED lights. The Nano-rods that are made of the same materials can be used in computer chips, solar panels etc. In the future, we may have to insert the firefly luciferin coated Nano-rods into LED lights. Remember these Nano rods need not have to be plugged in.  Thus these Nano rods will save on the lighting costs and using luciferin we can light up the entire world!

Firefly light is one of nature’s best examples of bioluminescence. The light is extremely bright and brilliant. It can be used for nonbiological applications by manipulating the interface between the biological and nonbiological components.  It can be used for the many biological applications also.

Mother Nature has created hidden technologies in various species. They are abundantly found, but hidden. Man has to investigate deeply and should study and use it to his advantage to better his life and living standards. If man has to study and understand the various species available in this planet, he should not disturb nature. He should conserve all the members of the planet and live harmoniously with Nature.