Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
FIREFLIES: Difference between revisions
(New page: FIREFLIES. Common summer evening bioluminescent insect that flashes fire-like sparks in the dark. During the summer of 1984, the Sigma Chemical Company of St. Louis sponsored the Sigma Fir...) |
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FIREFLIES. Common summer evening bioluminescent insect that flashes fire-like sparks in the dark. During the summer of 1984, the Sigma Chemical Company of St. Louis sponsored the Sigma Firefly Scientists' Club in Dubuque. The family of Pat Francois collected a record for the year of 8,200 fireflies that earned them $82.00. Sigma paid one cent each for the insects with an additional ten-dollar bonus for every twenty-five thousand. | [[Image:fireflies.gif|left|thumb|150px|Far more than a delight for summer nights, fireflies promise medical breakthroughs.]]FIREFLIES. Common summer evening bioluminescent insect that flashes fire-like sparks in the dark. During the summer of 1984, the Sigma Chemical Company of St. Louis sponsored the Sigma Firefly Scientists' Club in Dubuque. The family of Pat Francois collected a record for the year of 8,200 fireflies that earned them $82.00. Sigma paid one cent each for the insects with an additional ten-dollar bonus for every twenty-five thousand. | ||
Unable to grow fireflies in captivity, companies like Sigma wanted the chemicals that give the insects their magic glow. Using compounds made from fireflies, doctors were able to diagnose congenital gaiactosemia in babies at birth. This condition imitates death by suffocation. Alerted parents can eliminate gaiactose from the baby's formula. | Unable to grow fireflies in captivity, companies like Sigma wanted the chemicals that give the insects their magic glow. Using compounds made from fireflies, doctors were able to diagnose congenital gaiactosemia in babies at birth. This condition imitates death by suffocation. Alerted parents can eliminate gaiactose from the baby's formula. | ||
Extracts from the firefly light can also be used to diagnose the possibility of some forms of mental retardation and search for the causes of cancer, muscular dystrophy and heart trouble. Luciferin and luciferase, chemicals found in firefly light, have even been used to manufacture a shark repellent. | Extracts from the firefly light can also be used to diagnose the possibility of some forms of mental retardation and search for the causes of cancer, muscular dystrophy and heart trouble. Luciferin and luciferase, chemicals found in firefly light, have even been used to manufacture a shark repellent. | ||
Revision as of 01:09, 2 August 2008
FIREFLIES. Common summer evening bioluminescent insect that flashes fire-like sparks in the dark. During the summer of 1984, the Sigma Chemical Company of St. Louis sponsored the Sigma Firefly Scientists' Club in Dubuque. The family of Pat Francois collected a record for the year of 8,200 fireflies that earned them $82.00. Sigma paid one cent each for the insects with an additional ten-dollar bonus for every twenty-five thousand.
Unable to grow fireflies in captivity, companies like Sigma wanted the chemicals that give the insects their magic glow. Using compounds made from fireflies, doctors were able to diagnose congenital gaiactosemia in babies at birth. This condition imitates death by suffocation. Alerted parents can eliminate gaiactose from the baby's formula.
Extracts from the firefly light can also be used to diagnose the possibility of some forms of mental retardation and search for the causes of cancer, muscular dystrophy and heart trouble. Luciferin and luciferase, chemicals found in firefly light, have even been used to manufacture a shark repellent.