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Fireflies

Fireflies. Photuris pyralis. Beetle or Fly?. Beetle. The firefly light is called a "cold light" because it produces no heat. Each species has a unique signal, and females of some species thereby locate males of other species and eat them.

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Fireflies

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  1. Fireflies Photuris pyralis

  2. Beetle or Fly? • Beetle

  3. The firefly light is called a "cold light" because it produces no heat.

  4. Each species has a unique signal, and females of some species thereby locate males of other species and eat them.

  5. A female Photuris sp. ready to devour a prey male. These femme fatales use flash signals to lure in males of other species by imitating their females' flash patterns.

  6. The insect controls the emission of light by regulating the amount of air supplied to the cells (photocytes). • A lot like the glow-in-the dark sticks at Halloween

  7. Mating Fireflies

  8. GLOWWORMS • These, along with firefly larvae, are often called glowworms.

  9. Luciferin • Used as a bio indicator of life

  10. Needs ATP • As a cofactor • The luciferin-luciferase chemical reaction has been used for years to measure the amount of ATP produced in cells and by various chemical reactions.

  11. Role of membranes? • Many enzymes that control a cell’s chemical reactions are located in membranes. • Control the substances that go in and out of a cell.

  12. Making light Step 1 luciferin + ATP -------------> luciferyl adenylate + PPi enzyme PPi = pyrophosphate

  13. Making Light Step 2 • luciferyl adenylate + O2 -------------> oxyluciferin +AMP + light • Light is given off and the oxyluciferin and AMP are released from the enzyme's surface.

  14. Ever seen a glow-in-the dark mushroom? • Recently, the gene (section of DNA coding for the protein) for the luciferase enzyme has been isolated, placed in the genes of other organisms

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