Pt. I. Five different bioluminescence systems. 1. A marine crustacean : bioluminescent fishes as plagiarists and thieves ; 2. Jelly fish and green fluorescent protein : a soft coral, a calcium-sensitive protein, and fish with related bioluminescence systems ; 3. Fireflies and other beetles : luciferase-dependent bioluminescence color and rhythmic displays ; 4. Dinoflagellates and krill : the sparkling clocks of the oceans and bioluminescent shrimp ; 5. Bacteria : bacterial "communication," symbioses, and milky seas
pt. II. Diversity, functions, and evolutionary origins of bioluminescence. 6. Short accounts of other luminous organisms : having different and not well-characterized biochemistries ; 7. Bioluminescence in the oceans : anglerfish, dragonfish, and a Lake Baikal parenthesis ; 8. The many functions of bioluminescence : defense, offense, communication, and propagation ; 9. The origins and evolution of bioluminescence : how did luciferases originate?
pt. III. Bookends. 10. Applications : tools for biology, medicine, and public health ; 11. How does life make light? : "excited molecules" and bioluminescence.
