Bioluminescence Imaging

Bioluminescence is typically associated with dinoflagellates as a form of a chemical reaction that happens within those organisms and the product is light. Bioluminescence Imaging is similar in that it is a byproduct of light emission, however it has a greater importance than just giving off light or being a relatively interesting chemical reaction. Bioluminescence Imaging is a technology that has been developed recently in the last few years and allows for real-time analysis of diseases at the molecular level, using an enzyme based tracker like system which allow scientists and researchers alike the ability to hone in on more complicated diseases like cancers and other genome therapies. Bioluminescence imaging is a new take on treating those
Bioluminescence is found in the natural world, for the organisms that either produce or use bioluminescence it’s a form of camouflage, defense, warning and even communication (Barr, n.d.). As learned in class, bioluminescence is mainly seen in a form of bacteria which stems from dinoflagellates and is the result of stored energy. Dinoflagellates can be found in the ocean and at night the water glows because they are turning that stored energy from the sun and converting it into light, it is one big chemical reaction that happens internally in some organisms and the resulting product is light. Bioluminescence, while it’s an interesting concept to think about because organisms, mainly bacteria can take energy from the sun or other sources and literally light themselves up for whatever reason it is useful to them but not so useful to humans, except fun to look at. However, taking the idea of bioluminescence and applying it to real life medicine and applications ranging from cancer treatments to viral infections as mentioned above turned something ‘cool’ and nonsignificant to humans into an amazing necessity for exploring all avenues of