luciferase

Luciferase is an enzyme that produces light through a chemical reaction, similar to how fireflies glow. It works by converting a molecule called luciferin into an excited state, which then releases energy as visible light when it returns to its normal state. Scientists use luciferase in research to study biological processes, track gene expression, or detect specific substances because the light produced can be easily measured. Essentially, luciferase acts as a natural biological flashlight, allowing us to observe and measure events inside living organisms with high sensitivity.