Bioluminescence Patrik Dhaeseleer Counter Culture Labs Jan 7
Bioluminescence! Patrik D’haeseleer Counter Culture Labs Jan 7, 2015 U. Cambridge 2010 “E. glowli” i. GEM team
Welcome to the Omni! A collective space to share and commune in Oakland Home to Counter Culture Labs, Sudo Room, Bay Area Public School, Food Not Bombs, and many more… Support the Omni http: //igg. me/at/omnicommons
Welcome to Counter Culture Labs! We are a member-supported community lab for DIY Biology and Citizen Science Become a member! https: //counterculturelabs. org/join/ Join our mailing list https: //groups. google. com/group/counterculturelabs http: //www. meetup. com/Counter-Culture-Labs/ http: //twitter. com/Countr. Cultr. Labs https: //www. facebook. com/Counter. Culture. Labs info@counterculturelabs. org patrikd@gmail. com
What is Bioluminescence Production of light from a biochemical reaction by living organisms Independently evolved in many different lineages! Luciferin: small molecule that gets oxidized Luciferase: enzyme that catalyzes the reaction
Biochemistry of known bioluminescence systems http: //biolum. eemb. ucsb. edu/
Fireflies
Bioluminescent squid!
Bioluminescent bacteria!
U. Cambridge 2010 “E. glowli” i. GEM team
Bioluminescent ostracods • Aka sea fireflies, umi-hotaru • Used in WWII by Japanese army to read maps at night!
Bioluminescent mushrooms
Dinoflagellates From Greek dinos: whirling, and Latin flagella: whip. So, “whirls around using a whip” Causes “Red Tides” And bioluminescent waves:
Pyrocystis lunula (the “moon-shaped fire cell”) Lifecycle
Pyrocystis fusiformis (“spindle-shaped”) Pyrocystis noctiluca (“shine by night”)
Why study Bio. Luminescence? Wide spread applications in biomedicine, including imaging disease progression in vivo (in live animals): Progression of autoimmune encephalomyelitis
We have the genes; we can do bioengineering with them!
The Glowing Plant Project
Plus, it’s just lots of fun to play with! U. Cambridge 2010 “E. glowli” i. GEM team
Important links Grow your own dinos http: //tinyurl. com/My. Pet. Dinos Become a member! https: //counterculturelabs. org/join/ Join our mailing list https: //groups. google. com/group/counterculturelabs Support the Omni http: //igg. me/at/omnicommons http: //www. meetup. com/Counter-Culture-Labs/ http: //twitter. com/Countr. Cultr. Labs https: //www. facebook. com/Counter. Culture. Labs info@counterculturelabs. org patrikd@gmail. com
- Slides: 23