Fireflies, Dead Fish, and a Glowing Bunny: a Primer on Bioluminescence

Kaan Biron | Pages 19-26 | BioTeach Online Journal | Vol. 1 | Fall 2003

Luminescent organisms have been observed throughout the ages. The cause of the luminescence wasn’t known until the advent of the microscope and modern science. The first serious scientific attempts to understand the origin of luminescence in organisms were underway by the mid 1600’s. Scientists today have a considerably deeper understanding of the mechanisms of bioluminescence and are able to exploit this phenomenon as a useful scientific tool to further biotechnical research.