Bioluminescence

From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science

Bioluminescent dinoflagellates (Lingulodinium polyedrum) lighting a breaking wave at midnight. The blue light is a result of a luciferase enzyme.

Bioluminescence results when a light emitting molecule, luciferin, is put in the presence of a luciferase enzyme[1]. The luciferin molecule takes on an oxygen molecule, then decays back to normal by the emission of light without heat. Thus, bioluminescence is a very efficient light.

Bioluminescence is not the same thing as florescence (or phosphorescence) which involves a reemission of absorbed light[2].

Bioluminescent creatures

Bioluminescence is found in many different kinds of creatures. Deep sea fish are thought to be 90% bioluminescent. Sometimes, bioluminescence in fish occurs when certain bacteria form a symbiotic relationship with the fish. Nevertheless, most light emitting fish produce light without needing bacteria [3]. Deep sea fish which have a light producing organ can flash the organ at will[[4].

Some creatures that use bioluminescence are:

Stomiiformes - deep sea fish
Some Siphonophora which are colonies of hydrozoa
Certain Bacteria
Cypridina crustaceans of the class Ostracod [5]
Fireflies
Dinoflagellates
Certain Mushrooms
Some Squid and Octopus
Some centipedes and millipedes

Fish in the genus, Malacosteus, like the black dragonfish, have a special combination of bioluminescence, florescence, and filters so they emit a deep red light which other fish cannot see[6].

Evolution and Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence is thought to have evolved several times since different organisms use several different chemical pathways that emit light. Usually it is very difficult to explain how a complex pathway appeared once, let alone several times. Evolutionists also will need to outline the genetic steps that developed luciferin and luciferase and explain why they would be preserved before bioluminescence became available to influence natural selection?