Term Paper on
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is the
production and emission of light by living organisms such as,
the firefly and various fish, fungi, and bacteria. To write a
term paper on bioluminescence can be a daunting task. Therefore
here are a few topics that you could select to write a term
paper on the phenomenon of bioluminescence.
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research papers and term papers now
You could write a
term paper
on explaining the various theories of bioluminescence. There are
5 major theories widely accepted for evolution of bioluminescent
characteristics. They explain how bioluminescence is used by
various organisms to their advantage. The 5 main adaptations for
bioluminescence are: Counter-illumination camouflage,
Attraction, Repulsion, Communication, and Illumination. You may
talk about how organisms use bioluminescence as camouflage to
kill their prey; or as attracting for mating in the mating
seasons; or bioluminescence can be used to repel or confuse
predators. It is also used as communication between certain
bacteria and other species; whereas illumination is another
adaptation of bioluminescence that allows species like Black
Dragonfish to see red-pigmented prey even at deep ocean levels
where red light cannot travel and its pitch black freezing
water.
Your term paper
could be about the various bioluminescent organisms. There are
statistics that say 90% of the marine life emits bioluminescence
light in some form or another. Some of them are not visible to
the naked eye, as every organism’s bioluminescence is unique in
wavelength, duration, timing and regularity of flashes. Major
bioluminescent organisms include: Terrestrial organisms
(Fireflies, Glow worms, Fungi), Fish (Anglerfish, Firefly
squid), Marine invertebrates (Jelly fish, Octopus), and
Microorganisms (Dinoflagellates).
You explain the integration and continued study and research of
bioluminescence in industrial technology. You can go on to
explain the structure and functioning of the light emitting
special organs that are known as Photophores, which contain two
chemicals Luciferin and Luciferase that work together in the
presence of oxygen to create light. Industrial designers are
constantly researching these organs to create products that will
naturally create light and save electricity. Some proposed
applications of engineered bioluminescence include:
• Glowing trees to line highways to save government electricity
bills
• Christmas trees that do not need lights, reducing danger from
electrical fires
• Agricultural crops and domestic plants that luminesce when
they need watering
• New methods for detecting bacterial contamination of meats and
other foods
• Bio-identifiers for escaped convicts and mental patients
• Novelty pets that bioluminesce (rabbits, mice, fish etc.)
Some musicians have also used the bioluminescence to create a
novelty, such as capitalizing on Luciferin and Luciferase
systems in the field of genetic engineering, or could be
employed for biomedical research using bioluminescence imaging.
Order your custom
research papers and term papers now
Order your custom
research papers and term papers now
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