Evolving the Ability to Glow: Smithsonian Discovers Bioluminescence Originated in Deep-Sea Corals 540 Million Years Ago

Scientists at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History have discovered that bioluminescence, the ability of organisms to produce light through chemical reactions, may have originated 540 million years ago in deep-sea corals. This discovery suggests that a group of marine invertebrates existing 300 million years earlier than previously thought may have been the first animals to exhibit bioluminescence.

Bioluminescence has evolved independently at least 94 times in nature and serves various purposes such as camouflage, courtship, communication, and hunting. The exact reason for the development of this ability in animals remains unknown to scientists. Andrea Quattrini, coral curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and senior author of the study, expressed interest in determining when bioluminescence first appeared in animals.

Through a detailed evolutionary mapping of eight-chambered corals, researchers concluded that the common ancestor of eight-chambered corals was likely bioluminescent 540 million years ago. This finding challenges previous beliefs about the timeline of bioluminescence in animals and suggests that this ability has played a significant role in the success of eight-chambered corals over time. Danielle DeLeo, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of bioluminescence as a form of communication for many deep-sea animals.