Bioluminescence is light produced by a chemical reaction that exists naturally in an organism without the emission of heat. Bioluminescence is a trait primarily encountered in marine animal but non-marine animals can also be bioluminescent, such as the firefly. Animals can use their light as either a defensive or offensive tactic as additionally to attracting potential mates. Light in these animals is not formed differently from light produced by heat. What happens is that an electron that orbits the nucleus of an atom gets enough energy to proceed to a higher orbital shell. It is when it loses this energy and returns back to its previous orbital shell is when the energy is released in the form of a photon. The only difference between bioluminescence and thermal reactions is that there is no energy lost in the form of heat in the process. When in a warm environment, electrons are thermally aroused and most of the energy is released as heat and a smaller portion of the energy is released as light. In bioluminescence, the electrons are chemically aroused and all the energy is released as light, involving no heat in the process. Chemicals involved in the process of bioluminescence are Luciferin and a substrate (a material in which other materials and processes are carried out, in this case the emission of light) and an enzyme called luciferase. In order for the process to occur, ATP is needed which provides the energy in order for the enzyme to initiate the reaction. In the scenario depicted, this bug is not emitting heat. This beetle may simply be a beetle that uses bioluminescence to survive as will as a blister beetle. This beetle can appear to burn the skin because they create skin lesions through direct contact. They do not produce heat, it is simply another chemical reaction created by either (most commonly) cantharidin or pederin. These chemicals are highly toxic to most humans and result in dermatitis (irritation to the skin). The toxins are defense mechanism for the bug to protect from predators that come into contact with them.
http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/functions.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-substrate.htm
http://creationwiki.org/Bioluminescence
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/cm/v25/n4/jellyfish
http://www.itg.be/itg/distancelearning/lecturenotesvandenendene/52_Ectoparasitesp7.htm
http://www.itg.be/itg/distancelearning/lecturenotesvandenendene/52_Ectoparasitesp7.htm
3 comments:
The fact that the bugs might not actually being producing heat, but the burning sensation we feel is actually just a chemical reaction between a the temperature of our skin and the biolumiscent bug is something I hadn't thought of. Interesting!
I really enjoyed reading your post, Grace. I was very surprised to learn about how toxins in the insect gave the appearance of a burn—I would have never researched the topic in that direction!
Very interesting approach, to identify that the burning sensation may derive not from the bioluminescence but from the secretions of the insect itself. Excellent lateral thinking, and a pretty solid discussion of the topic.
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