January 8, 2014 — The findings, reported in the journal PLoS One on Wednesday, have implications for the evolution and behavior of these fishes. They may also provide new chemicals for laboratory research, according to the authors, including John S. Sparks of the American Museum of Natural History and David Gruber of the museum and the City University of New York.
Bioluminescent organisms like fish and fireflies produce their own light. Biofluorescent fish and corals do something different, absorbing blue light, which is relatively high-energy, and transforming it into relatively lower green, orange and red light. Some organisms do both.
The proteins involved in fluorescence are prized by researchers, who adapt them to light up different biological processes. In 2008 the Nobel Prize was awarded to three scientists for the discovery in jellyfish, and adaptation for research, of what is usually called G.F.P., for green fluorescent protein.
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