Photobiology
Encyclopedia
Photobiology is the scientific study of the interactions of light
(technically, non-ionizing radiation
) and living organism
s. The field includes the study of photosynthesis
, photomorphogenesis
, visual processing
, circadian rhythm
s, bioluminescence
, and ultraviolet
radiation effects. The division between ionizing radiation
and nonionizing radiation is typically considered to be 10 eV, the energy required to ionize an oxygen atom.
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
(technically, non-ionizing radiation
Non-ionizing radiation
Non-ionizing radiation refers to any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy per quantum to ionize atoms or molecules—that is, to completely remove an electron from an atom or molecule...
) and living organism
Organism
In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homoeostasis as a stable whole.An organism may either be unicellular or, as in the case of humans, comprise...
s. The field includes the study of photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
, photomorphogenesis
Photomorphogenesis
In developmental biology, photomorphogenesis is light-mediated development. The photomorphogenesis of plants is often studied by using tightly-frequency-controlled light sources to grow the plants.-Germination:...
, visual processing
Visual system
The visual system is the part of the central nervous system which enables organisms to process visual detail, as well as enabling several non-image forming photoresponse functions. It interprets information from visible light to build a representation of the surrounding world...
, circadian rhythm
Circadian rhythm
A circadian rhythm, popularly referred to as body clock, is an endogenously driven , roughly 24-hour cycle in biochemical, physiological, or behavioural processes. Circadian rhythms have been widely observed in plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria...
s, bioluminescence
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Its name is a hybrid word, originating from the Greek bios for "living" and the Latin lumen "light". Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in...
, and ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
radiation effects. The division between ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
and nonionizing radiation is typically considered to be 10 eV, the energy required to ionize an oxygen atom.
See also
- Light effects on circadian rhythmLight effects on circadian rhythmNumerous organisms maintain inherent individual daily rhythms to biological processes, known as circadian rhythms, that assist the organism in maintaining functional periodicity relative to the 24-hour day/night cycle of the earth...
- Light therapyLight therapyLight therapy or phototherapy consists of exposure to daylight or to specific wavelengths of light using lasers, light-emitting diodes, fluorescent lamps, dichroic lamps or very bright, full-spectrum light, usually controlled with various devices...
- Photobiomodulation
- Photochemical and Photobiological SciencesPhotochemical and Photobiological SciencesPhotochemical & Photobiological Sciences is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing original research and review articles from all areas of photochemistry and photobiology...
- ScotobiologyScotobiologyThe term scotobiology describes the study of biology as directly and specifically affected by darkness, as opposed to photobiology, which describes the biological effects of light.-Overview:...