HUMAN BIOLUMINESCENCE
Eric writes...

So Jim, I was just watching "The Deep" (an episode from the documentary "Blue Planet") and it talked allot about bioluminescence. Now what exactly causes bioluminescence? I realize that it's made by bacteria called photophores, but how do THEY do it? How do the photophores live on deep sea animals? Is it possible for photophores to grow on humans? Could WE bioluminate? (is that the right verb for bioluminescence?)

First of all, it is true that some organism have a symbiotic relationship with a bioluminescent bacteria called photophores, but that is only one way to do it. There are more than a dozen different mechanisms that cause bioluminescence. Let's take a look a just what Bioluminescence is.

Bioluminescence is produced by a chemical reaction. A cell will contain a chemical, called a "luciferin", then adds another called a "luciferace". The luciferace acts as an enzyme, allowing the luciferin to release energy in the form of light, as it is oxidized. It will also give off an inactive byproduct called "oxyluciferin".

So, could humans bioluminess (or nate)? The potential is always there but it would take some heavy duty evolving or gene splicing to make it happen. As far as photophores starting to grow on humans, it is unlikely. Just like any bacteria, it has preferred environments. What grows on you, doesn't necessarily grow on your dog and what grows on a jelly fish may have no inclination to grow on you. So you better keep a good stock of batteries and a flashlight, if you want to glow in the dark