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Bioluminescence
Bio-(life) luminescence-(glows)- Glowing forms of life
By: Amber Guzman and Kali Matthias
http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum
Why would living things want to glow???
1. To find food
2. Attract a mate
3. Scare away/ confuse predators
4. See in the dark
5. To communicate
The genus Aglantha is bioluminescent, but the blue and purple colors in
this photo are formed by iridescence of thin tissues in its bell. The
thickness of the tissue and angle of light striking it can cause bright
colors to show up. The orange color near the mouth is pigmentation,
probably to mask luminescence or attract prey.
The Lanternfish have species-specific patterns to the distribution
of their light organs, they must be used to recognize potential
mates. They likely use their luminescence for counterillumination
as well.
The deep-sea scyphomedusa Atolla vanhoeffeni it can
produce an incredible perpetuated luminescence
display when disturbed.
Euphausia pacifica is a small vertically migrating
species of krill.
The rainbow colors on ctenophores are not
bioluminescence. They are merely diffraction acting on
the ambient light. This shallow-dwelling species, Beroe
forskalii, produces a bright luminescent display when
disturbed.
This small squid in the
genus Abraliopsis has
several different types of
light organs.
What is
GENETIC TRASFORMATION??
• Genetic
Transformation
means change
caused by genes,
and involves
putting a gene
into a living thing
to change it’s
characteristic.
How is it used in the real world?
•In medicine,
doctors can hook the
pGLO gene (glowing
gene) onto a gene
that is carrying
AIDS and they will
be able to follow it
and see where it
goes in the body.
Key Terms
Bioluminescent:
Bio-(life) luminescent(glows)- Glowing
forms of life
Plasmid: A circular
DNA molecule,
capable of cloning
itself carrying one
or more genes.
pGLO: Plasmid
containing the GFP
sequence and
ampicillin resistance
gene.
GFP (Green Fluorescent
Protein): When added to
a gene, gives this gene
the ability to glow and
be seen or identified
under ultraviolet light
and gives off energy in
the form of visible
green light.
STEP 1 & 2
3 ul pGLO
DNA into tube
0
3
0
2
0
0
20 ul
thawed
competent
cells into
tube with
DNA
Gently mix DNA cells
by flicking the tube
several times; tap the
tube to get liquid to
bottom
STEP 3 & 4
=
Place tube on ice
for 10 minutes
STEP 4
Heat shock the
cells at 420 C
for EXACTLY 45
SECONDS;
return to the ice.
STEP 5
Add 80 ul of LB Broth
to the cells and
incubate the tube at
370 C for 15 minutes
FEED
YOUR
CELLS!!
80 ul LB Broth
0
8
0
STEP 6
Plate 100 ul entire content of tube
Agar plate
pGLO
ori
bla
araC
GFP