Bioluminescence: Living Lights, Lights for Living

by Thérèse Wilson (Author), J. Woodland Hastings (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-0674067165

ISBN-10: 0674067169

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Bioluminescence is everywhere on earth―most of all in the ocean, from angler fish in the depths to the flashing of dinoflagellates at the surface. Here, Thérèse Wilson and Woody Hastings explore the natural history, evolution, and biochemistry of the diverse array of organisms that emit light.

While some bacteria, mushrooms, and invertebrates, as well as fish, are bioluminescent, other vertebrates and plants are not. The sporadic distribution and paucity of luminous forms calls for explanation, as does the fact that unrelated groups evolved completely different biochemical pathways to luminescence. The authors explore the hypothesis that many different luciferase systems arose in the early evolution of life because of their ability to remove oxygen, which was toxic to life when it first appeared on earth. As oxygen became abundant and bioluminescence was no longer adequate for oxygen removal, other antioxidant mechanisms evolved and most luminous species became extinct. Those light-emitting species that avoided extinction evolved uses with survival value for the light itself. Today’s luminous organisms use bioluminescence for defense from predators, for their own predatory purposes, or for communication in sexual courtship.

Bioluminescence was earlier viewed as a fascinating feature of the living world, but one whose study seemed unlikely to contribute in any practical way. Today, bioluminescence is no longer an esoteric area of research. Applications are numerous, ranging from the rapid detection of microbial contamination in beef and water, to finding the location of cancer cells, to working out circuitry in the brain.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book is a wonderful introduction to the world of bioluminescent organisms, from bacteria to fungi and animals, through to the technological discoveries and developments for which bioluminescence has been pivotal. Wilson and Hastings are certainly the individuals to bring the whole field together.”―Margaret McFall-Ngai, University of Wisconsin–Madison

“Wilson and Hastings have given us a masterful biology lesson showing how addressing a seemingly simple question―how do different organisms produce light?―leads to fascinating natural history, intriguing ecology, and exciting biochemistry. They show how the study of bioluminescence has given us new tools, new insights, and new questions that need to be answered.”―Martin Chalfie, winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

“Wilson and Hastings demonstrate that what appears on the surface to be a biological oddity is actually a marvelous entry port into examining the intricacies of biochemistry as molded by evolution. I found this book absolutely captivating.”―Jim Morin, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University

“Wilson and Hastings provide an exceptional, scholarly, clear treatment of bioluminescence.
”―J. N. Muzio, Choice

About the Author

Thérèse Wilson (1925–2014) was Senior Research Associate Emerita in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University.

J. Woodland Hastings (1927–2014) was Paul C. Mangelsdorf Research Professor of Natural Sciences in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University.

Product details

Publisher : Harvard University Press (March 4, 2013)
Language : English
Hardcover : 208 pages
ISBN-10 : 0674067169
ISBN-13 : 978-0674067165
Item Weight : 1.65 pounds
Dimensions : 6.4 x 1 x 9.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,984,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #433 in Analytic Chemistry (Books)
- #1,838 in Biochemistry (Books)
- #3,581 in Chemistry (Books)

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13 ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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Mauricio J. Motles

Radiant book on bioluminescence !

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2018

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I agree with other comments that this is a great book on a subject, that although has been known for a long time, is still poorly known. The author recognizes this fact and invites us to investigate more of it.
What originally was just "basic research" has turned into useful and commercial applications unsuspected just a few years ago, and there is a lot more to learn! The book gives a wonderful overview , quite updated, on bioluminescence.
I suggest reading also the book from Dr. Shimomura "Luminous Pursuit: Jellyfish, GFP, and the Unforeseen Path to the Nobel Prize" as it shows the time and extraordinary effort that has taken to learn about bioluminescence. Maybe, this explain why there is still so much to investigate about this intersting topic.

One person found this helpful

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John Gookin

Great academic book

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2014

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This is an academic work that offers a broad view of bioluminescence. The price is an amazing deal for a work like this. It is a great reference book regarding the biochemical and symbiotic mechanisms of bioluminescence. I especially appreciated the color photos and diagrams because of their educational value. The authors and their colleagues have an amazing depth of both knowledge and the artcraft it takes to combine double exposed photos that perfectly match the subtle spots of bioluminescence with the larger non-illuminated picture.
One shortcoming for my application is that this book is not very readable by non-experts because it is laden with latin names and academic jargon. Bio-freaks like myself will love this book, but it won't bring new people into the amazing world of Bioluminescence. I teach Marine Biology in an environment where we can take students swimming at night among clouds of glowing dinoflagellates and it is a surrealistic life experience. I would encourage these authors to write a similar book in plain English, so undergraduate students who are still exploring where to focus their interests could read about this amazing wonder of the earth.
Thank you for this contribution to human knowledge.

3 people found this helpful

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Mark Duxbury

Bioluminescence

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2017

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Bioluminescence is an excellent overview of the subject with a nice balance between the bioluminescent chemistry and the functional aspects

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cvstevani

Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2013

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This book is an excellent introduction to bioluminescence commenting several different systems from bacteria and dinoflagellates to fungi and polichaetes. It has awesome pictures too.

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Luis Fernando Espinel M

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2015

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Thanks

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Sergio

Just what we were looking for

Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2016

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Awesome book.

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Sara W. Forster

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2015

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Unique readable book by an amazing woman.

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Dieter Forster

I loved this book

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2013

I loved this book. I have often sat by my pond on summer nights and watched the fireflies in wonder. Now I know how they, and millions of other species, produce their mysterious light signals, and to what purpose. This is a science book, and it goes into some depth about the chemistry of bioluminescence, but it does so without robbing the subject of its beauty and mystery. Scientist readers will find additional hard-science material in two “book-end” chapters. Interspersed are stories about soldiers on patrol at night, about biology students on a camping trip, and others. “The field of bioluminescence is, in many ways, a curio shop of folk art, full of beautiful light works of still mysterious origin”, to quote the author. For me as a reader, there is a little less mystery now but it hasn’t reduced my sense of beauty and wonder. I highly recommend this book, both for scientists who want to know how much we know, and don’t know, about bioluminescence, and for others who have occasionally sat by a pond and wondered about how fireflies do it.

7 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Dieter

Sehr schönes Buch

Reviewed in Germany on July 21, 2013

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Wer sich für das Thema Biolumineszenz interessiert und englisch kann. für den ist das Buch ein echter Gewinn.
Es werden dabei keine Spezialkenntnisse in Chemie oder Biologie vorausgesetzt. Das Buch ist reich illustriert
und enthält schöne Photos, mikroskopische Aufnahmen und Graphiken die das Verstänsnis des Themas erleichtern und oft
einfach nur schön sind.

One person found this helpful

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おばぼたる

一般向けには難しすぎ、専門書にしては丁寧さに欠く

Reviewed in Japan on March 9, 2013

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●写真は良い。他で見たことがない美しい写真が多数ある。

●内容は、かなり専門寄りだが詳細な文献リストがついていないので役に立たない。

●総じて言えば、一般向け読み物には難しすぎ、専門書にしては丁寧さに欠く、どっちつかずの中途半端な本。この分野で長らく活躍してきた著者らの総まとめというには残念な完成度。

●ちなみに、専門家向けならば Bioluminescence: Chemical Principles And Methods があるが、こちらは発光生物の生態については殆ど触れられていない。一般向けでは、最近は良いものが出ていない。

●最近、著者が二人とも続けて亡くなられた。まさに総まとめの本になってしまった。

One person found this helpful

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