Imagine a deserted beach, the sky dotted with stars, and with every step you take, the sand under your feet lights up with a bluish, almost magical light. This is not a dream but bioluminescence, a phenomenon that makes some living organisms capable of emitting their own light, like tiny living stars.
Just recently, this sight enchanted the residents of Newport Beach, California. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, at the end of April 2023, the waves lit up an electric blue thanks to the presence of dinoflagellates, microscopic algae that light up as the waves pass. This event is not rare in that area, but it always has a significant impact!
This show is not relegated to some remote corner of the planet; on the contrary! We can find it in different life forms, from the bacteria that populate the ocean depths to the fireflies that illuminate our summer nights… Did you know that, according to a study published in Science, bioluminescence has evolved independently at least 40 times in the course of life history? An extraordinary example of evolutionary convergence!
But how is all this possible? The secret lies in an extraordinary alchemy of molecules, a real chemical laboratory within these organisms. Think about it: a molecule called luciferin reacts with oxygen, aided by a special enzyme called luciferase. And so, as if by magic, chemical energy is transformed into light, into various colours, from blue to green, from yellow to red.
And don’t think bioluminescence is just a whim of Nature, an ornament as an end. No, it plays a vital role in the survival of these creatures. For some, it is a defence weapon; for others, a mating call; for others, it is still an infallible bait to attract prey.
Think of deep-sea squid, which use bioluminescence to camouflage themselves with the light that filters from the surface, or bioluminescent fungi, such as Neonothopanus gardneri, which, according to a National Geographic article, glow an intense green to attract insects that disperse their spores.
A Journey into Immortality: The Rejuvenating Medusa
What if I told you that there is a creature capable of challenging times, of going back in its life cycle, rejuvenating? It seems like science fiction, yet it is the reality of Turritopsis dohrnii, the immortal jellyfish.
This small animal, just a few millimetres in size, possesses an extraordinary ability: when it finds itself in stressful conditions, rather than dying, it can regress to a juvenile stage, as if it were going back in time. It is a real elixir of youth!
Just recently, a team of Spanish researchers sequenced the genome of this jellyfish, as reported by the journal Nature. This is an important step in revealing the secrets of its immortality!
Imagine the implications of this discovery! By studying the mechanisms of this transdifferentiation process, we could one day reveal the secrets of ageing and cellular regeneration, opening new frontiers for medicine.
Custodians of a Priceless Heritage
Bioluminescence and immortal jellyfish are just two examples of our planet’s extraordinary biodiversity, a priceless heritage that we have a duty to protect. Scientific research allows us to reveal the secrets of these phenomena, but it is essential to remember that knowledge goes hand in hand with respect for Nature.
So, let’s continue to explore, marvel, and protect these wonders because Nature is an open book that teaches us every day the beauty and fragility of life.
Further information:
- Bioluminescent Imaging (BLI): a technique that uses the light emitted by bioluminescent organisms to study biological processes in real-time, with applications in various fields, from cancer research to the study of the immune system.
- Applications of Bioluminescence: Bioluminescence finds applications in various sectors, from medicine to the environment. For example, bioluminescent bacteria can detect water pollution, while luminescent proteins are employed as markers in molecular biology.
And with this, fellow explorers, our journey today ends. But discovery continues, always around us. Until the next adventure!
Bibliographic references
- Brodl, E., Winkler, A., & Macheroux, P. (2018). Molecular Mechanisms of Bacterial Bioluminescence. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 16, 551–564.
- Haddock, S. H. D., Moline, M. A., & Case, J. F. (2010). Bioluminescence in the Sea. Annual Review of Marine Science, 2, 443–493.
- Rees, J. F., de Wergifosse, B., Noiset, O., Dubuisson, M., Janssens, B., & Thompson, E. M. (1998). The origins of marine bioluminescence: turning oxygen defence mechanisms into deep-sea communication tools. Journal of Experimental Biology, 201(Pt 8), 1211-21.
- Amaral, D. T., Kaplan, R. A., Takishita, T. K. E., de Souza, D. R., Oliveira, A. G., & Rosa, S. P. (2024). Glowing wonders: exploring Brazil’s diversity and ecological significance of bioluminescent organisms. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 23(7), 1373-1392.
- Lescot, M. et al. (2021). Light and darkness in the marine world: effects of light on dinoflagellate behaviour. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22, 11311.
- Tannous, B. A., & Badr, C. E. (2011). Bioluminescence imaging: a historical perspective and future directions. Trends in Biotechnology, 29(12), 624-633.
