Description
Luminescence is present in nature through counter illumination, whose purposes include predation and attracting mates. Bioluminescence is the process by which specific microorganisms emit light and it is commonly seen in marine environments. This is because bioluminescence results from a symbiotic relationship with bacteria and marine species such as fish, shrimp, and squid. The Lux operon is responsible for this light production, where the enzyme luciferase oxidizes with the substrate, FMNH2. The LuxAB gene sequence encodes for the luciferase heterodimers, ultimately resulting in light emission. The purpose of this study is to confirm the presence of the Lux genes from bioluminescent bacteria cultivated from marine organisms; using squid as a model. Molecular methods used within the lab included Colony Polymerase Chain Reaction ( cPCR ) using LuxAB primers and imaged by gel electrophoresis.
