BIO325H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Signal Generator, Luciferase
Document Summary
Animal morphology as a signal generator or receiver. Both males and females have them: different species = different durations, they emit this light to attract mates, males fly over swamps and stuff and attract females, if females are receptive they emit light back. It"ll be a pattern that they will be doing. Males have a lantern in their abdominal: have elaborate eyes and abdomens, light organ is large to attract females, since males are so high, the females will emit elaborate lights at night (since they are nocturnal) There"s an enzymatic reaction to light it up: luciferase enzyme + lucifin (chemical) + atp + o2 light. There"s a certain genus where the females mimic other female"s fireflies and eat the other fire flies. Are clear so they can be hidden better. They sit and wait in the sun and somehow capture em, but they eventually grow to turn.
