logo
Products
Services
Resources
Selection Guides
About
What are the differences between bioluminescence and fluorescence?
Posted January 13, 2023
Bioconjugation Chemical ReagentsEnzymesFluorescenceLuciferasefluorescence imagingluminescense
Answer

Basis of differentiation

Bioluminescence 

Fluorescence

Definition
Bioluminescence occurs from a chemical reaction that creates light energy within an organism’s body 
Fluorescence is the emission of light from a substance that has absorbed energy previously 
Signal-to-noise ratio
High
Lower 
Substrate
Luciferin
None
Imaging depth
1-2 cm
1 cm
Time image is acquired
In minutes
Seconds
Phototoxicity
None associated
Some phototoxicity possible 
Source of light
A living organism
A substance or material
Properties
Appears as a result of the reaction between luciferin and oxygen in the presence of luciferase and other factors
Light becomes emitted as a result of the excitation of atoms in substances after absorbing energy previously from other sources
Additional resources
BIOLUMINESCENCE IMAGING: PROGRESS AND APPLICATIONSAmplite® Gaussia Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay Kit *Maximized Luminescence*iFluor® 488 succinimidyl ester

What are the labels used for direct immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods?What are the differences between chemiluminescence and electrochemiluminescence?How do I detect intracellular ATP levels?What are the types of molecules that exhibit fluorescence?What are the different types of spectrometers used in fluorometry?