| firefly | <entomology> Any luminous winged insect, especially. Luminous beetles of the family Lampyridae. The common American species belong to the genera Photinus and Photuris, in which both sexes are winged. The name is also applied to luminous species of Elateridae. See Fire beetle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| luciferases | Enzymes present in certain luminous organisms that act to bring about the oxidation of luciferins; energy produced in the process is liberated as bioluminescence; such enzymes can be used to detect very low concentrations of metabolites. Origin: L. Lux, light + fero, to bear (05 Mar 2000) |