Biophoton

For the science of interactions of light and living beings, see biophotonics.

Biophotons (from the Greek βίος meaning "life" and φῶς meaning "light") are photons of light in the ultraviolet and low visible light range that are produced by a biological system. They are non-thermal in origin, and the emission of biophotons is technically a type of bioluminescence, though the term "bioluminescence" is generally reserved for higher luminance systems (typically with emitted light visible to the naked eye, using biochemical means such as luciferin/luciferase). The term biophoton used in this narrow sense should not be confused with the broader field of biophotonics, which studies the general interaction of light with biological systems.

Biological tissues typically produce an observed radiant emittance in the visible and ultraviolet frequencies ranging from 10−17 to 10−23 W/cm2 (approx 1-1000 photons/cm2/second).[1] This low level of light has a much weaker intensity than the visible light produced by bioluminescence, but biophotons are detectable above the background of thermal radiation that is emitted by tissues at their normal temperature.[2]

While detection of biophotons has been reported by several groups,[3][4][5] hypotheses that such biophotons indicate the state of biological tissues and facilitate a form of cellular communication are still under investigation,[6][7] Alexander Gurwitsch, who discovered the existence of biophotons, was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1941 for his work.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Popp-2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cifra M, Brouder C, Nerudová M, Kučera O (2015). "Biophotons, coherence and photocount statistics: A critical review". Journal of Luminescence. 164: 38–51. arXiv:1502.07316. Bibcode:2015JLum..164...38C. doi:10.1016/j.jlumin.2015.03.020. S2CID 97425113.
  3. ^ Takeda M, Kobayashi M, Takayama M, Suzuki S, Ishida T, Ohnuki K, et al. (August 2004). "Biophoton detection as a novel technique for cancer imaging". Cancer Science. 95 (8): 656–61. doi:10.1111/j.1349-7006.2004.tb03325.x. PMC 11160017. PMID 15298728. S2CID 21875229.
  4. ^ Rastogi A, Pospísil P (August 2010). "Ultra-weak photon emission as a non-invasive tool for monitoring of oxidative processes in the epidermal cells of human skin: comparative study on the dorsal and the palm side of the hand". Skin Research and Technology. 16 (3): 365–70. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0846.2010.00442.x. PMID 20637006. S2CID 24243914.
  5. ^ Niggli HJ (May 1993). "Artificial sunlight irradiation induces ultraweak photon emission in human skin fibroblasts". Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology. 18 (2–3): 281–5. doi:10.1016/1011-1344(93)80076-L. PMID 8350193.
  6. ^ Bajpai R (2009). "Biophotons: a clue to unravel the mystery of "life"". In Meyer-Rochow VB (ed.). Bioluminescence in Focus - a collection of illuminating essays. Vol. 1. Kerala, India: Research Signpost. pp. 357–385. ISBN 9788130803579. OCLC 497860307.
  7. ^ Zarkeshian P, Kumar S, Tuszynski J, Barclay P, Simon C (March 2018). "Are there optical communication channels in the brain?". Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition). 23 (8): 1407–1421. arXiv:1708.08887. doi:10.2741/4652. PMID 29293442. S2CID 29847303.
  8. ^ Beloussov LV, Opitz JM, Gilbert SF (December 1997). "Life of Alexander G. Gurwitsch and his relevant contribution to the theory of morphogenetic fields". The International Journal of Developmental Biology. 41 (6): 771–7, comment 778–9. PMID 9449452.