Bioluminescence

Definition:

When a living Organism produces and emits light as a result of

chemical reaction is called bioluminescence.

Introduction:

➤ Bio means "Living" in Greek while Lumen means "light" in Latin.

During the process, chemical energy is converted into light energy.

The process is caused by enzyme catalyzed chemo luminescence

reaction.

> All bioluminescent organisms use a reaction between an enzyme

and a substrate to make light, but different species use different

chemicals in the process.

Occurrence

• Bioluminescence on land and in freshwater is rare compared to its

occurrence in the ocean

• In the deep ocean 90% of the animals are luminescent.

• Bioluminescence is found throughout the ocean-from surface to

deep sea floor.

• Most marine animals that emit light exhibit blue green

bioluminescence.

Bioluminescent organism on land glow mainly in blue-green

colors, but they can also glow in colors on yellow spectrum.

Marine Biology Career Essay

Marine biology has always been a dream job of mine. I went to the

Pittsburgh Zoo when I was eight years old, and I saw the crawl

through aquarium and I was amazed. Ever since then I have always

wanted to be surrounded by sea animals and help them in any way

possible. While I was at the zoo there was this girl, who I can now tell

was a marine biologist, who gave a bunch of facts about the stingrays
that we were allowed to pet. She would just ramble off from the top of

her head about all the different sea creatures. At that time I realized

that I wanted to be like her and know all that I could about all plants

and animals of the sea. Marine biology is also very important to

society because it is a job where they take care of the animals, keep

them safe, and interact with them all at the same time. I chose to write

about this career because it interests me a lot and I would love to be

in touch with all different types of animals in my everyday life.

The history of marine biology may not be as old as some other

professions, but it is still very popular. This career didn't become an

actual study until the nineteenth century by Sir Charles Wyville

Thomson and Sir John Murray. "Over four years, they traveled 69,000

miles and cataloged 4,717 new species of marine plants and animals"

Evolutionary biology is the study of history of life forms on

earth. What exactly is evolution? To understand the changes in flora and

fauna that have occurred over millions of years on earth. We must have an

understanding of the context of origin of life. le, evolution of earth of stars

and indeed of the universe itself. What follows is the longest of all the

construct and conjectured stories. This is the story of origin of life and

evolution of life forms or biodiversity on planet earth in the context of

evolution of earth and against the background of evolution of universe

itself.

INTRODUCTION

There are several theories regarding the formation of different

species of organisms through evolution. The scientist Jean Baptist Lamarck

was the first to formulate his thoughts on evolution in the form of a theory.

Lamarck argued that through continuous use of the neck (stretching),

giraffes with long necks evolved. He also argued that the ancestors of

snakes had limbs, and their disuse led to the evolution of the species of
snakes without limbs Lamarck's concept is called the theory of inheritance

of Acquired characters. Lamarck's theory could be summarized as follows.

Use or disuse of

organs depending

on living

Changes in the

structure of

organs

Transmitted

to the next

generation

New Species

of organism

evolves

Assignment Choices: -

1. Discuss the importance of communication methods in the development of biology from

prehistoric times to today, and include any predictions for its importance in the future.

Hint: think of communication within scientists, so written rather than verbal, good

printing quality, mass produced, reading glasses, development of a universal language (English)

and format, including species names (Linnaeus) to mass dissemination, libraries, electronic and

web. Then think of across fields, so reviews. And to the public; so simplified articles like

science correspondents in newspapers, TV programs, journals like new scientist and scientists

who specialize in writing in an amenable style to the public like Richard Dawkins in

evolutionary biology and so on.

2. Discuss the role of (i) technology and (ii) multidisciplinary approaches in the

development of Biology, and its likely role in the near future

Hint: asides the lecture course slides think of what scientists used at each stage as well as

today, and so the role of mathematics, physics etc in their development. Download a biological

equipment catalogue for clues, scan some materials and methods sections from diverse
published papers etc.

3. Discuss the role of engineering in biology and visa versa

4. Discuss the role of morality in modern science compared with its ancestral roots, and

selecting relevant examples argue if you think more or less moral control is required by

society upon scientific research, against the benefits it may bring.

5. ANOTHER? If you wish to select another topic, as long as it is related to this lecture course,

you are welcome to suggest the title. Please do not submit, however, any assignment without

FIRST getting your new title approved.