why is bioluminescence impacted
What Causes Bioluminescence? Bioluminescent organisms can glow in complete darkness. They contain a unique compound called luciferin, according to scientists who study bioluminescence at the University of California at Santa Barbara. When luciferin is exposed to oxygen, a chemical reaction (aided along by an enzyme called luciferase) emits light. Bioluminescence is different from fluorescence. Fluorescent organisms, such as butterflies that have fluorescent markings on their wings, would not glow in complete darkness. Fluorescent pigments only glow in the presence of an external light source, according to the UCSB scientists.