Written on May 10, 2010 – 11:31 am | by admin |

A luminescent protein found in a crystals jellyfish has revolutionized the study of biology. Why does this protein glow?  As he scooped jellyfish after jellyfish out of the water at Friday harbor in the summer of 1961, young japanese scientist had only one goal to isolate the protein that made it glow in the dark. Little did he know that he would discover a green fluorescent protein (GFP) that would revolutionize the study of biology and eventually win him nobel prize.

Over the course of that summer, he and his boss, collected and dissected over 9,000 aequorea victoria jellyfish and worked for the next few years studying the extract. After collecting bucketfuls of victoria jellyfish cut off the light producing organ, squeezed them through a cotton handkerchief and the began pains taking task of isolating the light giving proteins. They tried various salts, metals, acids, proteins, and emzymes with no success.