The bacterium Vibrio fischeri produces light when it is growing symbiotically in the light organ of certain fish and squid species. The bacteria sense they are in a light organ because they are present at a high bacterial cell density, which they detect through "quorum sensing." We use several bacterial strains, each of which carry only part of the genes responsible for the quorum sensing and bioluminescence process. We use chemical and genetic complementation to determine which genes are lacking in each strain by measuring their ability to produce and/or detect a quorum-sensing signal.
Ocean Explorer Expedition Education Modules (EEM) are designed to reach out in new ways to teachers, students, and the general public, and share the excitement of daily at-sea discoveries and the science behind NOAA's major ocean exploration initiatives with the people around the world. The Bioluminescence 2009: Living Light on the Deep Sea Floor Expedition offers a unique opportunity to engage explorers of all ages as we continue our journeys to parts of our ocean planet that few have seen - the bioluminescent benthic environments of the deep ocean.
This Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education activity (PDF) encourages students to practice experimental design and scientific writing through the study of bioluminescence. Students observe and experiment with bioluminescent dinoflagellates (Pyrocystis fusiformis), learning how and why they produce light. The activity includes information for teacher preparation, an introduction to bioluminescence, defined vocabulary terms, a list of necessary materials, procedure, assessment questions, and references.
This Ocean Explorer interactive, hands-on lesson plan (PDF) leads students on an exploration of deepwater adaptations by addressing the focus question: What types of adaptations enable deep-sea fishes to survive and collect food in the darkness of the deep ocean? In the activity, students search for Skittles in a dark room while wearing goggles covered in blue cellophane to simulate deepwater feeding. This lesson plan includes a reproducible student handout and links to reference resources.
This classroom activity is part of the Smithsonian's Giant Squid Curriculum. It uses flashlights to teach students about luminescence, counterillumination, and photophores. In the scope of this activity, students will identify luminescence and brainstorm possible reasons for its biological purpose and function. The activity includes a detailed procedure accompanied with questions teachers can ask in order to promote inquiry and classroom discussion. A link directs teachers to background content about the Giant Squid.
In the darkness of the ocean live fascinating creatures that produce their own light called bioluminescence. Join Scripps Institution's Mike Latz and discover how organisms use this light to attract food, hunt prey, and hide from predators, and how applications of bioluminescence have rEvolutionized biomedical research. (47 minutes)
This fun Web site is part of OLogy, where kids can collect virtual trading cards and create projects with them. Here, kids learn about bioluminescence. The article contains two engaging, kid-friendly sections:"Glowing in the Ocean," a sing-along animated explanation, set to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad," that looks at how marine animals use bioluminescence to "hunt a meal, attract a mate, and warn a foe."Other Glow-in-the-Dark Creatures, a quick look at how lantern fish and flashlight fish use bioluminescence to protect themselves against predators.
Biological assays are important tools for detecting hazardous materials in water. Presented here is an inexpensive, reproducible assay that requires minimal preparation and equipment. Students are provided with a direct method of detecting potentially biohazardous materials in water by observing the reduction in bacterial luminescence in the non-pathogenic marine bacteria, Vibrio harveyi or Vibrio fischeri. This novel procedure, an attention getter, serves as a motivational tool, stimulating interest and evoking curiosity.
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