Informative Speech Outline: Bioluminescence And Its Potential Uses

Introduction

Attention Getter: As you all probably already know, Thomas Edison was the man who was credited with the invention of the light bulb. But did it ever occur to you that there are organisms out there with an inner light bulb of their own? Today, I will be talking about bioluminescence.

Significance: While bioluminescence enables a variety of creatures to survive, that does not necessarily mean that it is narrow in scope for research has indicated that we can benefit as well.

Thesis Statement: Bioluminescence is a magnificent phenomenon occurring in a wide range of organisms, and research has paved the way for various advances and breakthroughs.

Preview of Main Points: First, I will present some background information on bioluminescence and clarify its workings. Next is an overview of medical and scientific applications which highlight implications for the future.

Body

I. First main point: Bioluminescence refers to the natural production of light in a myriad of organisms, especially marine animals, and this process is brought about by a chemical reaction.

A. Subpoint: The history of bioluminescence goes way back, and it was discovered that this occurrence is made possible by two main components: luciferin and luciferase.

Support: Bioluminescence first appeared in the folklore of ancient civilizations. However, the first reference to the phenomenon came from Aristotle. Around 350 B.C., Aristotle noted that bioluminescence is a “cold light” due to the fact that it does not generate any heat. For thousands of years, humans have discovered ways to work with bioluminescence. Indigenous peoples found bioluminescent fungi to be a handy light source when it came to navigating forests. Coal miners made use of jars filled with fireflies to make their way through caves, this being an early form of a safety lamp. Bioluminescence also proved useful in wartime. After the Battle of Shiloh, part of the Civil War, the glowing wounds of soldiers recovered quickly with the help of bioluminescent bacteria found in soil. The bacteria protected the injured soldiers from infection by killing off pathogens, and the incident came to be known as “Angel’s Glow”.

Support: The magic behind this extraordinary occurrence was revealed by Raphael Dubois, French pharmacologist, who found that bioluminescence involves a luciferase enzyme and a luciferin substrate. When the luciferin molecule reacts with oxygen, the end result is the production and emission of light. Luciferase is a catalyst, which functions to increase the rate of the reaction. A photoprotein, which is essentially luciferin combined with oxygen, lights up whenever a calcium ion is available. Something worth noting is the fact that only four luciferin molecules account for the majority of light production in oceans.

Subpoint: While having an aesthetic appeal, bioluminescence is of crucial importance when it comes to an organism’s survival as well.

Support: Although there are some bioluminescent land dwelling creatures, most are found in the ocean. We can witness this through physical disruptions such as waves or a boat moving along the water

Roughly 1,500 known species of fish are bioluminescent, this number just considering fish alone. But what’s the point of this inner glow anyway? Certainly, bioluminescence isn’t just a light show. Creatures utilize their bioluminescence for many purposes: as a means to lure prey, attract mates, and protect themselves from predators.

This animated image is of a cardinal fish spitting out bioluminescent crustaceans. When the cardinal fish ingests these small sea creatures, the creatures light up as a defense mechanism. The cardinal fish then vomits this blue burst, otherwise it would fall prey to an even larger fish, and it sure doesn’t want that.

Support: Steven Haddock, marine biologist, and his colleagues conducted 240 research dives in the Pacific Ocean and found that a whopping 76 percent of the sea creatures they encountered are capable of producing their own light. Aside from the aforementioned uses of bioluminescence, marine creatures can also put this ability to work in order to camouflage themselves. Known as counter-illumination, fish can hide their silhouettes by having their emitted light match the surface of the water. In terms of mating, fish can flash light in certain patterns to find a mate of the same species. Fireflies use bioluminescence to both attract mates and keep predators away, using their glowing abdomens to warn bats of their bad taste.

Transition: Now that we have an idea of how bioluminescence is carried out and the ways in which organisms use this ability to survive, let us take a step forward and look into what bioluminescence means for the future.

II. Second main point: In analyzing recent developments in the areas of medicine and science, there arises a possibility that bioluminescence has a far more profound impact than we would otherwise think.

A. Subpoint: Bioluminescence could be a valuable tool in tracking the progression of diseases.

Support: The discovery of GFP (green fluorescent protein) was considered a great achievement in the field of biotechnology due to the fact that such proteins are capable of imaging and monitoring the cellular and molecular processes taking place within an organism. Aequorin is an ideal bioluminescent protein when it comes to detection since it is stable, nontoxic, and easy to work with. Whereas GFP requires an external light source, aequorin does not. One notable feature of aequorin is its ability to detect calcium, a crucial signaling molecule within cells.

Support: Scientists have used natural bioluminescence molecules to identify cells in organisms for quite some time, however they cannot be seen very well within thick tissue. This brings us to the creation of synthetic bioluminescent molecules. Atsushi Miyawaki from RIKEN Brain Science Institute created synthetic molecules that are 1,000 times brighter than natural molecules. Through the injection of these molecules, brain cells light up and their activity can be tracked with ease. This development could be of great significance when it comes to tracking immune cells, stem cells, and the spread of cancer (Sample, 2018).

B. Subpoint: Researchers are considering the fact that bioluminescence could be a form of lighting other than electricity.

Support: A team of scientists at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) believe bioluminescence to be a new form of green energy, with bioluminescent plants potentially lighting up streets, parks, and homes. There would be a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions if such plants are to be used as a light source. Additionally, the plants could be composted if they die. Nevertheless, these bioluminescent plants are about as bright as a nightlight, which brings about some degree of uncertainty as to whether they can truly serve as a light source and if they can compete with efficient LED lights.

Support: Glowee, a company based in Paris, introduced a light powered by bioluminescent bacteria that lasts for three days and is currently furthering this development. Sandra Rey, founder of Glowee, hopes electricity consumption will decrease with this new, natural form of lighting. In France, there exists a ban prohibiting shopkeepers from lighting their windows from 1 AM to 7 AM to reduce light pollution. Glowee’s product could help get around this ban. But by considering bioluminescent bacteria as a light source, the costs of maintaining the bacteria must be taken into account as well. This invention does raise questions, however there is no doubt that bioluminescence is shedding light on many possibilities.

Conclusion

Summary of Main Points: Many organisms rely on their inner glow to find food, communicate, or protect themselves from predators. While being beneficial to such creatures, bioluminescence surely has far-reaching effects, for it can aid us too.

Concluding Statement: With all of this in mind, it is certain that there’s one bright future ahead of us with bioluminescence and its possibilities illuminating the way. The next time you come across a bioluminescent creature, just know that its glow means so much more.