The flashlight fish has an organ under its eye that emits light,which serves to startle predators and attract prey, and allowsthe fish to communicate with other fish. Some species canrotate the organ inside and then out, so the light appears toflash on and off. The light is actually emitted by bacteria (of thegenus Vibrio) that live in the organ in a mutualistic relationshipwith the fish. (The bacteria receive nutrients from the fish.)The bacteria must multiply until they reach a certain densityin the organ (a “quorum”; see Concept 11.1), at which pointthey all begin emitting light at the same time. There is a groupof six or so genes, called lux genes, whose gene products arenecessary for light formation. Given that these bacterial genesare regulated together, propose a hypothesis for how the genesare organized and regulated.
The flashlight fish has an organ under its eye that emits light,
which serves to startle predators and attract prey, and allows
the fish to communicate with other fish. Some species can
rotate the organ inside and then out, so the light appears to
flash on and off. The light is actually emitted by bacteria (of the
genus Vibrio) that live in the organ in a mutualistic relationship
with the fish. (The bacteria receive nutrients from the fish.)
The bacteria must multiply until they reach a certain density
in the organ (a “quorum”; see Concept 11.1), at which point
they all begin emitting light at the same time. There is a group
of six or so genes, called lux genes, whose gene products are
necessary for light formation. Given that these bacterial genes
are regulated together, propose a hypothesis for how the genes
are organized and regulated.
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