Aglow in the Dark: The Revolutionary Science of Biofluorescence

by Vincent Pieribone

In the early 1960s, in a small shack on the Washington coast, a young, self-educated Japanese scientist performed an experiment to determine what made a certain jellyfish glow. The substance he discovered, green fluorescent protein, would revolutionize molecular biology, transforming our study of everything from the AIDS virus to the workings of the brain. Aglow in the Dark follows the path that took this glowing compound from its inauspicious arrival on the scientific scene to its present-day eminence as one of the most groundbreaking discoveries of the twentieth century. The story unfolds in far-flung places, from the coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean, to the medical schools and marine stations of our leading universities, to a cold war-era research laboratory in Moscow. Traversing the globe and the decades, Aglow in the Dark conveys the human fascination with bioluminescence, or "living light," its little-known application in war, forensic science, and molecular biology, and how it led to the finding of green fluorescent protein. The book reveals a hidden world where light is manipulated by animals and humans and put to remarkable uses--unlocking the secrets of the human brain, conquering dreaded diseases, and perhaps someday linking minds and machines. The authors deftly lead the reader through a complex story at the interface of biology and physics--and into the realm of wonder on the frontiers of scientific endeavor.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

Hardcover

First published January 15, 2006

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story about the discovery of luminescent and phosphorescent molecules from the sea which are currently used to "illuminate" cellular function.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another of those books I got to research for a future story. While there is material in the book about bioluminescence itself, it's mostly about the study thereof. I was specifically looking for information on cuttlefish. They are mentioned on page 12, in passing. So it's probably a good book, but not what I was looking for.

[Erin Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book so far. The first half was read in more or less one sitting, it was so interesting and written simply enough for a quick read. The second half is going a bit more slowly because detailed biology starts to bore me after a while, though it's definitely no fault of the author! It's detailed enough to interest those with a background in science, but not so hard that you have to study it.

This book focuses heavily on the people involved in the study of biofluorescence, which I enjoy immensely because I'm going into science as well. It gives you a good snapshot of what it's like to be a scientist, and reminds you that patience is a virtue (and that sometimes you just have to get lucky).

Overall I enjoyed this one!

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book tracing the history of biofluorescence, with an emphasis on GFP in cell biological research. This is probably the best book I've ever read on florescence, and the interviews with some of the main players in GFP technology are very illuminating. Especially interesting is the contribution Shimomura made to the research, as well as the discovery of red fluorescent variants. A must read for cell biologists interested in the history of the fluorescent proteins they work with.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written book, with the science intended for an educated lay audience. I found it factually correct, albeit slightly outdated in this exponentially growing field. My favorite thing about the book is actually how it brings the scientists to the forefront, with their quirks, hobbies, ups and downs, and difficulties along the way (one of the prominent scientists lived in Japan during the nuclear bombings). There were a couple digressions into coral reefs and neuron imaging in the brain, but they were interesting and pleasant to read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun science book. We swam in the glowing sea of dinoflagelates at Vieques and I have been wondering about them ever since. This book explains the science behind the glow and the many modern uses for the glow as well.

[Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer for bioflourescence, told by starting with the first researchers and moving forward. Very readable, seems to be half travelogue, too.