DailyDirt: Bioluminescence
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
There's just something really cool about things that glow in the dark. It's even more breathtaking when the glowing originates from living creatures, like fireflies or deep sea fish. While nature uses bioluminescence for purposes such as attracting mates (or prey), humans seem to be more interested in bioengineering plants or animals that glow by using fluorescent proteins from organisms that produce them naturally. Here are some examples of what people are doing with fluorescent proteins.- The Glowing Plant project is attempting to engineer the Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) plant to glow green-blue by giving it some firefly genes. The Kickstarter project raised $484,013, but there are concerns about the project's legality since it involves genetically modifying plants. The Canadian ETC Group, which has a history of opposing synthetic biology applications, has even launched a "kickstopper" campaign to stop the project. [url]
- Japanese researchers have discovered the first fluorescent protein in vertebrates, in the Unagi freshwater eel. While Unagi are considered a delicacy in Japan, very little was known about its biology. To their surprise, the researchers found that bilirubin (the human blood marker for liver function and jaundice) activated the UnaG fluorescent protein's green light emission. So they developed a fast and accurate new clinical test for bilirubin based on it binding to the UnaG protein to turn on its glow. [url]
- Some researchers are looking for ways to use bioluminescence for lighting applications. The main limitation is that fluorescent proteins don't emit enough light to provide a meaningful light source. However, firefly and biolumiscent bacteria genes can be engineered to make the fluorescent proteins shine brighter. Introducing these proteins into trees could then turn them into natural streetlights. [url]
- Researchers in Japan have genetically engineered silkworms to produce red, green, and orange silks that glow under fluorescent lights. They used fluorescent protein genes from Fungia concinna coral (orange), Discoma coral (red), and jellyfish (green). [url]
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: bilirubin, biology, bioluminescence, biotech, firefly, fluorescent, glow in the dark, glowing plant, gmo, protein, silk, silkworms, unagi
Companies: kickstarter
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
I know it has nothing to do with bioluminescense but bio engineering in general.
Also in Stockholm there is a project submission to build a skyscraper made from wood, before anybody laugh keep in mind that Japanese pagodas have been standing for hundreds of years,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuned_mass_damper
http://www.economist.com/node/456070
B efore that I was looking into scintillators and the chemicals that make those possible. Because I saw how to build a ion chamber
Youtube: Cheapest nuclear radiation detector - Ion chamber
I will stop now.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
In other news, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is no longer leaking radiation...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ah Bioluminescence...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The energy plants get from the fraction of sunlight is not enough for them to produce anything more than faint levels of light unless you want the plant to starve to death.
Even then, has anyone mentioned what happens with lights in the dark in the open? Insects love it, I doubt that will turn out well in a few ways.
The fluorescent stuff is cool, get out your silk pajamas and blacklights!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]