Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,

I'm doing the experiment "Bioluminescence: Investigating Glow-in-the-Dark Dinoflagellates" with Pyrocystis Fusiformis. According to the procedure, two of the dinoflagellate test tubes need to be in darkness for 24 hours, two in light for 24 hours, and two both light and dark.

Will the test tubes in the dark for 24 hours die because they are not being exposed to light and therefore cannot go through photosynthesis? I'm wondering because if they are dead, there will be no way to measure their bioluminescence.

Thanks

Hi there,

The dinoflagellates should be able to survive more than 24 hours in the dark. If they do not, then you can record zero as their bioluminescence, and that is still valid for your results.

Hope that helped!