The Benefits of Bioluminescent Plants

One of the hot topics in modern society is the study and appreciation of Bioluminescent plants. We've all seen the glowing green leaves of a profusion of moss along the edges of forest canopies. Many of us recognize daffodils with their blue-green iridescent foliage; or, perhaps, the striking blue-green spikes of Calendula, with their wafting tentacles. Even fungi command our attention with their fluorescent yellows and oranges that are characteristic of some species of the genus Mycoplasma.

So, what are these creatures? The scientific community has only recently begun to truly appreciate the beauty of bioluminescent plants. The term "bioluminescent" (not "bioluminescent") refers to the ability of the plants to generate and emit light. There are typically four genes responsible for this process: the gene that produces the plant's chloroplast cells, the gene that produces the protein chlorophyll, and the genes that allow the photosynthesis of carbohydrates.

The beauty of bioluminescent plants is that they possess four genes and therefore only require a single set of chlorophyll, and one set of photosynthetic proteins, to produce light. It would be difficult to experiment with such plants without a way to culture them in the lab. Most modern breeds of tobacco plants have already been bred to exhibit this capability. In fact, it would be hard to grow any other type of tobacco plant at all if it were not for the ability to grow bioluminescent plants.

A major breakthrough in recent years has been the discovery of the bioluminescent plants' ability to use a luciferin protein as a light emission mechanism. The luciferin is a specific, unique type of trans-cranial pigment cell (TPC) receptor. This TPC is a lipid-based receptor; the only one in nature that has this capability. When this receptor is activated, it converts a small portion of the hydrogen peroxide produced during photosynthesis into a chemical that makes the plant's leaves glow. The trans-cranial pigment cell is thus transformed from a source of energy into a source of lighting.

One of the major benefits of using bioluminescent plants has been their ability to make use of the natural sugars that are available in many common plants. This has meant that they can be grown almost everywhere; unlike many common fungi that only grow on trees or in soil. In addition, because the sugars the bioluminescent plants use are readily available to them, scientists have been able to develop them in the lab and then grow them in a variety of different environments. They have also been shown to be effective against some types of bacteria and fungi, including some types of yeast. Some of these pathogens have been responsible for causing serious outbreaks of disease in people with compromised immune systems.

There have been a number of experiments conducted on the uses of bioluminescent plants. For instance, scientists have been interested in their ability to create a glowing effect when the plants are sprayed with certain toxins. Other uses include creating a strobe-like effect when the plants are dipped in glue. Finally, some scientists have tried to use bioluminescent plants to create the appearance of glowing tobacco. While this particular experiment did not produce the expected results, it did demonstrate that glowing tobacco can be created using the same methodology. This is just one of the many exciting aspects of growing bioluminescent plants; hopefully more exciting results will continue to emerge as the science and technology behind them continues to grow.

Of course, bioluminescent plants are far from the only type of biofloriant; nature has countless types of fungi that use plants as a food source. In fact, many of these fungi are so powerful that they actually kill their predators. In nature, these fungi release toxins that serve as a defense against predators, including birds, mammals, and insects. This defense may explain why researchers are interested in bioluminescent fireflies: by creating a bright light in front of the flame, the firefly itself may become blind or unable to fly.

There is also interest in the glow-in-the-dark plants' effect on human health. Since the plants use up energy very quickly, their bodies use up most of their stored energy in just minutes. Although it may seem like nothing is happening to the organisms when these plants are active, they are actually harvesting energy. Since energy is always scarce, the creatures that consume the energy (and, in many cases, the entire living matter) of the bioluminescent plants tend to live longer and healthier lives than those who do not. Therefore, while we are still learning about the benefits of Bioluminescent Plants, there may be some exciting future developments.