Interview with a Biologist

1. Why some of the creatures generate this iridescent ability? For what purpose and motivation biologically?

Iridescence is the ability of some living beings to reflect the rainbow colors in their feathers (hummingbird, peacock) or wings (butterflies) and even water drops.
Bioluminescence: is the issue of a cold light in extremely simple organisms such as bacteria, algae, fungi, most marine; to more complex beings, like insects, some shellfish, octopus, squid, fish, frogs.

2. What kind of liquid or material can creates iridescence?

Iridescence: mainly water.
Bioluminescence: living beings, in most cases unite bacteria (symbiosis) incorporating in their cytoplasm particles (luciferase and luciferin) to “reflect ” light variations in the external environment and reflected in the spectrum of light yellow, red, blue and green.
Other more complex living beings possess specialized cells that can produce luciferin and luciferase, intra- or extracellularly by specific cells.

3. Why, as human-being, we would automatically treat this phenomena as a goodness?

The iridescence and bioluminescence are mechanisms used by living things that are not entirely clear yet. It is considered a phenomenon related to the evolution and resolution that can generate factors for various areas of biology such as cell cultures, medical research and advances in agriculture.

4. What other animals would react to iridescence?

Each animal reacts in a way to iridescence and bioluminescence. It may be associated with defense, power, communications, camouflage –  as attractive for attracting partners (mating) and used in different ways by a single body.

5.What’s the status of iridescence in nature generally?

The iridescence and bioluminescence awakens immense curiosity and research in various areas of biology, as their more complex mechanism is not yet cleared, its evolution and especially their application.
So far it has contributed, for example, to the medical research in tumor cells marking. It is estimated a further research in the genetic field, for markings of other cell types with atypia, degenerative diseases and malformations. There is the possibility with the advances in genetic research, also in cells and crops improvements.