Quote:

---

i was looking at the numbers this morning and noticed that my printout said "firefly" in the corner. it made me smile.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by ImEarly:
Do you refer to the relationship between bioluminescence and chemiluminescence? Perhaps useing quantitative measurements of the optical emission from excited chemical species to determine analyte concentration?

So you're a bounty hunter.
No, that ain't it at all.
Then what are you?
I'm a bounty hunter.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Forrestwolf:
My WIFE is a molecular biologist (generally works in development, but other things too, that I don't understand). And a Browncoat! Me, I'm a physicist who doesn't understand what she means when she's making tach or running gels...sigh... Didn't do "firefly" tests that I know of, but she DID work a lot with dragonflies in grad school :)

I'll second the request - anyone out there looking to hire a very talented molecular biologist?

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by benchcoat:
luciferase assay

bio-nerd right here--genetics and molecular bio (although lots of those divisions are pretty fuzzy these days)

fun dumb nerd game: think of the longest, most jargon-y way to describe what you do.

neuro-molecular-physio-developmental geneticist?

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by benchcoat:
she's probably not making taq, as I think there may be patent infringement issues with that--and no lab is going to make something increbibly cheaply that they could buy for large sums of money.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by ImEarly:
Do you refer to the relationship between bioluminescence and chemiluminescence? Perhaps useing quantitative measurements of the optical emission from excited chemical species to determine analyte concentration?


... Originally posted by EST120:
actually, she probably is making "taq" which is an enzyme used to make DNA. :)

...you are right! a luciferase assay. did one this morning. got to use our neat-o dual injector automated plate reader. so much better than sitting in front of a single tube reader for a couple hours. i am sure you know the feeling if you have ever done a luciferase assay.

... probably not, but if she worked for PGC or invitrogen, then they probably are making their own "patented" taq.


... Originally posted by FORRESTWOLF
... I just checked - she was NOT making taq - but someone was making it FOR her :) She informs me she would never be making something as mundane as taq :) And she says SHE has the coolest plate reader. And we're NOT moving to Madison!

---

Quote:

---

... what the hell language are you people speaking????

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by ImEarly:

Quote:

---

... what the hell language are you people speaking????

---

English...

You just have to break it down

The name bioluminescence originates from the Greek bios for "living" and the Latin lumen "light".

it is the emission of light from living organisms such as a firefly.

chemiluminescence is the same thing largely due to a chemical reaction

Chemoluminescence (sometimes "chemiluminescence") is the emission of light (luminescence) as the result of a chemical reaction. Most simply, given reactants A and B, with an excited intermediate ◊, we have,

[A] + → [◊] → [Products] + light

The decay of the excited state[◊] to a lower energy level is responsible for the emission of light. In theory, one photon of light should be given off for each molecule of reactant, or Avogadro's number of photons per mole. In actual practice, non-enzymatic reactions seldom exceed 1% QC, quantum efficiency.

For example, if [A] is luminol and is hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a suitable catalyst we have,

luminol + H2O2 → 3-APA[◊] → 3-APA + light

Where 3-APA is 3-aminophthalate. And 3-APA[◊] is the excited state florescing as it decays to a lower energy level.

A standard example of chemoluminescence in the laboratory setting is found in the luminol test, where evidence of blood is taken when the sample glows upon contact with iron.

When chemoluminescence takes place in living organisms, the phenomenon is called bioluminescence.

Therefore a Firefly emits light by
bioluminescence.

And a lightstick emits light by chemoluminescence.


So you're a bounty hunter.
No, that ain't it at all.
Then what are you?
I'm a bounty hunter.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by BadgersHat:
... what the hell language are you people speaking????

--Jefé The Hat

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Forrestwolf:
I just checked - she was NOT making taq - but someone was making it FOR her :) She informs me she would never be making something as mundane as taq :) And she says SHE has the coolest plate reader. And we're NOT moving to Madison!

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by est120:


taq is an enzyme that molecular biologists use to make pieces of DNA. it is particularly useful because it is stable at high temperatures (almost boiling). it was discovered in a bacteria that live in steam vents and such (thus, the ability to withstand the heat). those things you see on TV concerning paternity testing and DNA testing in criminal cases probably use a technique called PCR which uses taq to identify specific sequences in DNA. without taq, maury povich and jerry springer would have nothing to talk about. actually, i am sure they would find something.

make a little more sense?

---