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Squid Eye for the Reflective Guy

Posted by michael on from the nice-title dept.

gdyas writes "This week's Science details the discovery and characterization of a new class of proteins found only in squids called reflectins that create a soft, mirror-like surface by forming silvery reflective plates. The squid combines the use of these mirror-proteins with a lens and musculature that allow it to focus the light produced by symbiotic bacteria in its eyes in order to search for food. The possibilities for these proteins in nanotechnology and optics are very intriguing."

49 comments

  1. I've known that for a long time! by odorf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Havent you guys read Harry Potter? GEE!

    1. Re:I've known that for a long time! by telax · · Score: 1

      Or seen the i-man tv-series.. :P

      --
      telax - Just another vim and c hacker.
    2. Re:I've known that for a long time! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, I'm not five years old. Sorry.

    3. Re:I've known that for a long time! by hplasm · · Score: 1

      Well, read it when you are! ;>

      --
      ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.
  2. Mmmmm...gadgets by cb8100 · · Score: 1

    Imagine the blinding power of high output LEDs coupled with these reflecins...mwahahahahaha

    --
    My lack of God, it's Trotsky!
    1. Re:Mmmmm...gadgets by marcus · · Score: 1

      Sounds like you've spent too much time at CPF

      --
      Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.
      - W. Wriston, former Citibank CEO
    2. Re:Mmmmm...gadgets by Angry_Admin · · Score: 1

      I'd rather imagine a beowulf cluster of these. ;)

      --
      Wait a minute. I got it. You could play with your magic nose goblins.
  3. Anyone have a subscription to Science? by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 1

    Can't read the article without it. The National Geographic article is either talking about a different type of squid, or the submitter is wrong:

    According to the linked National Geographic article, the nocturnal squid uses the light source to mimic moonlight and mask its own shadow from predators. A much more interesting use than a flashlight to search for food.

    --

    There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
    1. Re:Anyone have a subscription to Science? by datababe72 · · Score: 4, Informative

      I do... but I'm afraid its not much help for the question you ask. Here is all the Science article says on the subject:

      "The Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae) (Fig. 1A) is similar to other cephalopod species that have been studied (6-9) in having both variably reflective tissues, such as the skin of the mantle, and statically reflective tissues, such as those associated with the eye, digestive gland, and light organ. The reflector of the bilobed light organ is a particularly well-developed tissue (Fig. 1, A to D) that modulates the luminescence produced by a population of the symbiotic bacterium Vibrio fischeri (10, 11). On each side of the adult light organ, symbiont-containing epithelial tissue comprises a core that is surrounded by the thick silvery reflector. Together with a muscle-derived lens, these dioptrics function to direct the bacterial luminescence ventrally (11). "

      However, a quick Internet search turned up this old article, which seems to support the camouflage use of the organ. But it also sounds like we don't really know how the squid uses its light organ. Its not like we can just ask it! Like many things, it may have more than one use.

      And here is Dr. McFall-Ngai's webpage, which summarizes her research and lists her other publications.

  4. The really interesting thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    ...is in whatever system the squid use to selectively allow this one species of symbiotic bacteria to infect a specific area of tissue in its eye without compromising the rest of its immune system.

    1. Re:The really interesting thing... by GigsVT · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's not really too interesting. Your gut is full of bacteria, and manages to keep them from infecting the rest of your body usually.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    2. Re:The really interesting thing... by stonecypher · · Score: 3, Informative

      ...is in whatever system the squid use to selectively allow this one species of symbiotic bacteria to infect a specific area of tissue in its eye without compromising the rest of its immune system.

      You know that most species have symbiotes, right? You realize that you have over 50 symbiotes in your lower intestine doing digestions that you cannot, yes? Same process, I wager.

      That's why E. Coli in food is so dangerous - not because it's particularly nasty, but because our immune system refuses to respond to it, so if it gets out of check you're not going to flush it on your own.

      --
      StoneCypher is Full of BS
    3. Re:The really interesting thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If e coli enters the blood supply, you will surely react.

      Intestines can be thought as a tube of an immunologic 'outside' that just happens to run through the inside of our bodies. The surfaces are treated as external by the immune system. We don't react to e coli, until it actually enters real inside of our bodies through the blood stream.

      Not sure a tube-like structure might allow these squid bacteria access to the eye issue while allowing it to be segregated immunologically.

    4. Re:The really interesting thing... by CHatRPI · · Score: 1

      Normal E. coli (the stuff in your intestines) is ok anywhere in your body (your body's immune system gobbles them up without a problem). The bad strain is called O157:H7. This strain produces cytotoxins similar to Shiga toxins (named after the bacteria which causes dysentery). Regular E. coli don't produce nasty toxins.

    5. Re:The really interesting thing... by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 1

      That's interesting as well.

      I think you basically chmod the bacteria so that they have executable rights, but selectively so that they can only execute when located in /dev/stomach. They can't even be written to other areas unless something catastrophic happens such as an appendix overflow exploit or a gut wound attack.

      --
      You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
    6. Re:The really interesting thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Typical humans contain more bacterial cells than human cells. . .
      I feel fine, but just wait until I die--I'll feel like bacteria food!
      Plants play the same game. Look up "legume."
      Lots of marine animals harbor luminous bacteria.
      Termites use bacteria to digest cellulose.
      Cows use bacteria to digest grass or cuds or whatever.
      A cow rumen is a 300 liter bag of bacteria.
      Be good to bacteria; they'll be good to you.

  5. Squid Eye for the Reflective Guy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Is this is new reality show where squid redecorate the Silver Surfers apartment?

  6. Flashlights for eyes by Jesrad · · Score: 1

    I wish I had this when younger, with all the late reading at night...

    --
    Maybe we deserve this world ?
    1. Re:Flashlights for eyes by DoraLives · · Score: 1
      I wish I had this when younger, with all the late reading at night...

      Give the DNA and nano people some time, and flashlights for eyes will qualify for a big yawn. I tell ya, things are going to get weird. Really really weird.

      Fortunately, I'll be dead and gone and won't have to deal with any of it.

      --
      Is it fascism yet?
    2. Re:Flashlights for eyes by Short+Circuit · · Score: 1

      And that stereotype about evil people having glowing red eyes? I swear, it's those time traveler cult-people.

      --
      tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
  7. Squid's Flashlight May Lead to New Nanolights by rpiquepa · · Score: 3, Informative

    Science wasn't the only source to report about these Hawaiian squids. When I commented about this on my blog three days ago, I was mentioning other articles from Scientific American or Ananova. In particular, Scientific American said that this small squid has "a built-in flashlight made up of a previously unknown type of protein," that the authors of the study *dubbed* "reflectin". I'm not sure if this will lead to future nanolight tools, but at least it's *very intriguing* and Ananova reports that "the structure of the reflecting plates could offer inspiration to nanotechnology designers." My blog contains more details and includes a picture of the cute three-inch-long Hawaiian bobtail squid.

    1. Re:Squid's Flashlight May Lead to New Nanolights by datababe72 · · Score: 1

      Ah, but Science is the original source... i.e., it has published the article from the researchers describing their research. This article is peer-reviewed, and is what any other scientist in the field would want to read to really evaluate the research.

      Scientific American, Ananova, and any other site, is summarizing the published research, and perhaps supplementing it with interviews with the researchers and others in the field. There's absolutely nothing wrong with using them as your source, but the Science article is still the original source.

    2. Re:Squid's Flashlight May Lead to New Nanolights by rpiquepa · · Score: 1

      I agree with you, but if you're not a Science subscriber, you only can read abstracts -- and only after registration. If you're a lucky paying subscriber to Science, you obviously can read their peer-reviewed papers. If you're not, you can only read comments from other sources. Roland.

    3. Re:Squid's Flashlight May Lead to New Nanolights by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is a cute squid.

    4. Re:Squid's Flashlight May Lead to New Nanolights by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When I commented about this on my blog three days ago, I was mentioning other articles from Scientific American or Ananova... My blog contains more details

      Alright!

      Rpiquepa's Blog. Better News for Nerds, Details that matter.

      We can transfer our karma right?

      :]

  8. I read about this days ago... by shadowxtc · · Score: 1

    ...and I'm really starting to have trouble remembering which articles are actually dupes here.

  9. Is anyone else by DuckDuckBOOM! · · Score: 1

    tired of the ____ Eye for the _____ Guy cutesy?
    Fourth variation I've seen today.

    --
    Life is like surrealism: if you have to have it explained to you, you can't afford it.
    1. Re:Is anyone else by stonecypher · · Score: 1

      Really? Have a look at your sig.

      --
      StoneCypher is Full of BS
    2. Re:Is anyone else by Feztaa · · Score: 1

      You haven't seen anything until you've seen Queer Eye For The Al-Qaeda Guy (snaps to the Royal Canadian Air Farce :).

    3. Re:Is anyone else by TheGreatGraySkwid · · Score: 1

      Usually, I'd be right there with you, but for once, I'm amused by it.

      Can't imagine why...

      --
      The Humblest Mollusk on the Net
  10. Doesn't this happen elsewhere? by dacarr · · Score: 1

    Isn't this the same phenomenon that makes cats' eyes "glow" at the right angles?

    --
    This sig no verb.
    1. Re:Doesn't this happen elsewhere? by iggymanz · · Score: 3, Informative

      Cats, dogs, cows & horses have a reflective membrane called the tapetum behind their retina, which merely reflects light (which was not absorbed by the first pass through the retina) back into the retina - no bacteria involved.

    2. Re:Doesn't this happen elsewhere? by RobertB-DC · · Score: 2, Funny

      Isn't this the same phenomenon that makes cats' eyes "glow" at the right angles?

      No, cats don't have "light produced by symbiotic bacteria" coming out of their eyes. Their eyes only glow when your headlights shine into them. But not for long.

      (No animals were harmed by this comment, though the humor-impaired may have flinched a bit. I'm in a foul mood, and my wit seems to be affected.)

      --
      Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  11. far out idea, solar sails by kippy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm a space nut so bear with me.

    I wonder how light and durable these reflective proteins are. One big problem with getting solar sails and space mirrors to work is deploying them. One solution is to build them in place but having a factory in space is just about as troublesome as launching them pre-made and trying to unfold them properly.

    If there's a biological way to grow something with the right properties, it may be a better solution.

    Like I said, far out idea.

    --
    Blaze a trail to the New World
    1. Re:far out idea, solar sails by datababe72 · · Score: 1

      An interesting idea... I am not a space nut, nor a materials science person. But I know a lot about proteins, so I'll tell you what I know on that front.

      For the protein to exhibit its reflective properties it needs to be in the correct "fold", ot three-dimensional shape. Some proteins maintain thier fold better than others. I once studied a protein that could be boiled in urea and still not fully unfold. Other proteins will unfold if you look at them funny. Of course, you can use protein engineering to try to change the properties of the protein, but that is not as easy as it sounds. We don't fully understand protein stability, and while there has been some success in making proteins more stable, its certainly not easy. And asking for something that will be stable in space seems like asking a lot. Proteins in general are happiest in aqueous solutions.

      Also, not all proteins assemble into larger structures. Some exist as monomers (single molecules) in solution. I suspect this particular protein assembles into some sort of larger structure, but there is nothing in the current Science article to say what that might be, and what its limitations are. There may be other "helper" proteins necessary to get the correct larger structure.

      Even if you get all the necessary components, you presumably want to scale up the assembly many-fold. You probably want something bigger than the frisbee-shaped platelets in the light organ of a tiny squid. This may or may not be possible. In most natural biological assembly processes, there are size limiting control mechanisms.

      I won't go on... in short, it may be theoretically possible, but it would be a very hard project. Certainly more than even the most optimistic grad student would take on!

    2. Re:far out idea, solar sails by kippy · · Score: 1

      fair enough. Space mirrors and solar sails are generaly predicted to be vast expanses (hundreds of square kilometers!) of what amounts to be birthday baloon mylar. thin, light, strong plastic with an aluminum coating on one side.

      For the protein to work, it would have to be able to withstand a vacuum, all types of radiation, and bitter cold. Probably a tall order for an organic molecule. It would also have to be lighter than aluminum and the manufacture process would have to be less troublesome. Yeah, probably a tall order but I'll keep it under my hat so I can make millions 500 years from now.

      --
      Blaze a trail to the New World
    3. Re:far out idea, solar sails by foniksonik · · Score: 1

      hmmm one BIG problem I see is that anything organic in nature would seem to require the things we only have here, on Earth. So 'growing' something in the vacuum of space seems like a very difficult proposition.

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
    4. Re:far out idea, solar sails by Short+Circuit · · Score: 1

      If a reflective protein could be embedded in a cell membrane, you might be able to make bacteria reflective...but then you'll piss off a lot of people about contaminating space with life forms.

      --
      tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
  12. Sweet... by BeatdownGeek · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe now I can finally get that shine job I've always wanted!

  13. from dream to technology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do you know how many purified proteins are commercial products in a field outside of research or pharms ? Not bloody many. Proteins are, as a rule, exspensive, delicate things. PS: There are a few industrial enzyme processes, such as sugar conversion (invetase) and laundry detergents (proteases), and some specialty, high value added enzymes for organic synthesis.

  14. Uh where does it say the light is from the eyes? by TheLink · · Score: 1

    I checked the national geo article and nowhere does it say the light comes from the eyes.

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  15. Natural Genius with Tenacles by MissMarvel · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The simplicity of this reflectin protein is astounding.

    It can take months to sequence some human proteins, yet the squid uses a mere 6 amino acids to construct his "flashlight".

    Is there a single protein in the human body that uses only 5 amino acids? Makes one wonder if a cost of evolution is biochemical inefficiency.

    1. Re:Natural Genius with Tenacles by torpor · · Score: 1

      Who is to say that _SQUID_ are not more evolved than us?

      The problem with evolution is it implies a superiority which can only be described in Mans terms.

      When I hear a dolphin telling me that "Man is the evolutionary master", I'll believe it, but not until then...

      --
      ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
    2. Re:Natural Genius with Tenacles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Is there a single protein in the human body that uses only 5 amino acids?

      Thyrotropin-releasing factor only uses 3 if you need a random example.

      Makes one wonder if a cost of evolution is biochemical inefficiency.

      You are a very silly person.

  16. Blame Canada! (Broadcasting Corporation) by Guano_Jim · · Score: 2, Informative

    Bioluminescent squid and their symbiotes were also covered (ogg file) on Quirks and Quarks, a CBC science show.

    I'm all about glowing calamari, you see.

    --
    3D Printing Tips and Tricks at Zheng3.com
  17. when you quote Science by bob_calder · · Score: 1

    Don't forget what happened to the guys at Texaco.

    --
    Any preoccupation with ideas of what is right or wrong in conduct shows an arrested intellectual development. (Wilde)