A fast detection system involving chemical processes

One other method of fast detection is by bioluminescence. This trait found in several marine bacteria emits light by the mean of biochemical mechanisms involving chemical processes. It is important to make the distinction between fluorescence and bioluminescence. In fluorescence, a high energy photon excites a molecule to an excited state which make the latter lose energy. This loss leads to the release of a visible photon and the drop to the original groundstate of the molecule. Bioluminescence involves an oxygen oxidation of an organic molecule. A luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin to excited state oxyluciferin which release a visible photon.