How Does Altering the Circadian Rhythm of Pyrocystis fusiformis Affect Its Bioluminescent Behavior?

Overview

Objectives/Goals The goal of my project was to determine if altering the circadian rhythm of Pyrocystis fusiformis affected its bioluminescent behavior. Methods/Materials Each night, for 3 nights, 9 test tubes filled with 10ml of sea water were gently sloshed back and forth 5 times per night. The brightness of their flashes was visually calculated and recorded in a lab notebook. An additional set of tests were performed, shortening the cycle each test. These alternate tests started at 19 hours and went all the way down to 8 hours. Results The results of my project supported my hypothesis, in that keeping 3 of the 9 test tubes in complete darkness at all times (as opposed to on a normal cycle or in constant light) would hinder the production of bioluminescence the most. The shorter tests had rather surprising results. Instead of not flashing at all, like all the research done on the topic said, rather they ended up flashing even brighter than the ones on a somewhat normal cycle. Conclusions/Discussion The tubes in total darkness never had the opportunity to photosynthesize and quickly ran out of the two enzymes luciferin and luciferase. Furthermore, the tubes that were kept in constant light still flashed, however not as brightly as the ones on a cycle. This is because the organelles that produce the flash, the scintillons, never had enough time to fully swap positions with the chloroplasts to go from photosynthesizing to being ready to flash.

Awards (1)

• Fourth Place

Competition history

• CSEF 2015 Microbiology (General) · Entry J1507

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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