La bioluminescence

Résumé du document

Le but de l'exposé était de décrire facilement un phénomène à priori difficile à comprendre. La bioluminescence est un phénomène que nous observons tous notamment via l'observation de lucioles mais nous sommes très peu à en comprendre les modalités. Ce document répertorie les méthodes chimiques de bioluminescence et les raisons pour lesquelles elle existe dans la nature. Chaque argument est illustré par un exemple et j'ouvre sur l'utilisation de la bioluminescence dans le monde médical.

Extraits

[...] Now that we know how bioluminescence works and why it exists, we are going to know a little more about how humans can use it Biologists and engineers are studying the chemicals and reactions involved in bioluminescence to understand better how people can use this process to make life easier and safer. Nowadays, bioluminescence is often use in biotechnology and in the medical sector. For example, bioluminescent bacteria can be helpful in medical imaging because they can attach to cancer tumours. After a while, cancer cells of the primary tumour can detach to go to other organs. [...]

[...] Bioluminescent trees or decorative purposes, for instance, could help light city streets. This would reduce the need for electricity. That's why the structures of photophores, which are light producing organs in bioluminescent organisms, are being investigated by industrial designers. The challenge is to succeed in producing light that is both bright enough and can be sustained for long periods at a workable price. For instance, University of Wisconsin–Madison is researching the use of genetically engineered E. coli bacteria, as bioluminescent bacteria in a light bulb. [...]

[...] * Some insect larvae light up to warn predators that they are toxic. So toads, birds, and other predators know that if they eat these larvae they will have serious problems, like possible death. Then, bioluminescence has an offensive role because bioluminescence may be used to lure prey or search for them. The most famous predator to use bioluminescence, the one we all know may be the anglerfish. It has a huge head, sharp teeth, and a long, thin, fleshy growth on the top of its head. [...]

[...] More recently, in 2016 Glowee, a French company we talked about at the beginning, started selling bioluminescent lights, targeting shop fronts and municipal street signs as their main markets. To conclude, bioluminescence is a form of light that is made by living organism. It mostly works with a chemical reaction that implies an enzyme, the luciferase, and its substrate, the luciferin. This phenomenon plays different roles in the living, like defensive or offensive skills, but also in reproduction and courtship rituals. And nowadays, engineers are working on ways to use bioluminescence to reduce our consumption of light energy but also to improve the medical imaging sector. [...]

[...] Also many marine animals, such as squid, house bioluminescent bacteria in their light organs. The bacteria and squid have a symbiotic relationship which enables the squid to luminesce. And now that you know the bioluminescence mechanism, we will present the Roles of bioluminescence in the living Because it is used by living organisms for different reasons like hunting prey, defending themselves against predators, finding mates, and executing other vital activities. First we will see that bioluminescence has a defensive role Some species luminesce to confuse attackers. [...]