Bioluminescent Fungi :: essays papers

Bioluminescent FungiINTRODUCTIONWhat is Bioluminescence?The current paper main focus is on bioluminescent Fungi but the basic features of bioluminescence discussed ar common to all bioluminescent organisms. Bioluminescence is simply light created by living organisms. Probably the most commonly know example of bioluminescence by North Americans is the firefly, which lights its abdomen during its mating season to communicate with potential mates. This bioluminescent ability occurs in 25 different phyla many of which are totally unrelated and diverse with the phylum Fungi included in this list (an illustration of a bioluminescent fungi is displayed in figure 1). One of the features of biological light that distinguishes it from other forms of light is that it is cold light. Unlike the light of a candle, a lightbulb, bioluminescent light is produced with very little heat radiation. This aspect of bioluminescence oddly interested early scientists who explored it. The light is the result of a biochemical reaction in which the oxidation of a compound called Luciferin and the reaction was catalyzed by an enzyme called Luciferase. The light generated by this biochemical reaction has been utilized by scientists as a bioindicator for Tuberculosis as well as heavy metals. On going research involving bioluminescence is before long underway in the areas of evolution, ecology, histology, physiology, biochemistry, and biomedical applications.History of Bioluminescent Fungi The light of luminous wood was first noted in the early writings of Aristotle which occurred in 382 B.C.(Johnson and Yata 1966 and Newton 1952) The next mention of luminous wood in the literature occurred in 1667 by Robert Boyle who noticed glowing earth and noted that heat was withdraw from the light. Many early scientists such as Conrad Gesner, Francis Bacon, and Thomas Bartolin all observed and made notation of luminous earth(Johnson and Yata 1966 and Newton 1952 ). These early observers thought that the light was collect to small insects or animal interactions. The first mention that the light of luminous wood was due to fungi occurred from a study of luminous timbers used as supports in mines by Bishoff in 1823. This opened the way for further study by many other scientists and by 1855 modern experimental work began by Fabre ( Newton 1952). Fabre established the basic parameters of bioluminescent fungi, those being The light without heat The light ceased in a vacuum, in hydrogen, and carbon dioxide The light was independent of humidity, temperature, light, and did not burn any