Light Bio

Bioluminescent plants provide pure enjoyment, and they are also broadly relevant to the emergent revolution in synthetic biology. Synthetic biology is tackling many of the profound challenges facing our world today, such as climate change, food security, and human health. But public perception clings to an elevated sense of risk, fueled by social trends towards controversies and a lack of directly observable benefits. Students overlook career opportunities in this rapidly growing area due to an absence of firsthand exposure. Turning abstract awareness into personal familiarity is achievable through the enormous popularity of theses delightful plants, bringing balance to public sentiment for this vital aspect of the bioeconomy.

Bioluminescent Plants are Here! People love glowing plants, but this has been mere fantasy until now. Light Bio has the only technology to make glowing plants a reality. Already being developed for homes and gardens, these enchanting plants shine with true organic light. Their soft illumination produces an engaging magical experience. And they are here at the Build with Biology conference to provide the world’s first exhibit of glowing ornamental plants. Light Bio will soon be releasing its first commercial product—the Firefly Petunia(TM). This delightful petunia glows continuously, from tiny seedlings to mature flowering plants. The light is generated entirely from living energy within the plant. No unusual growing condition or treatment is required. The petunia is normal in all aspects, except that it gives off an ethereal aura at night. When seeing these plants, people often think of the bioluminescent paradise imagined in the hugely popular Avatar movie. In the real world, bioluminescence is found in many animals, such as fireflies, plankton, jellyfish, and so forth. But bioluminescent plants do not exist in nature. Light Bio was able to create these by inserting genetic information recently discovered in bioluminescent mushrooms. This works because of the remarkable compatibility of plants with this particular type of bioluminescence. And while these plants provide pure enjoyment, they are also broadly relevant to the emergent revolution in synthetic biology. Synthetic biology is tackling many of the profound challenges facing our world today, such as climate change, food security, and human health. But public perception clings to an elevated sense of risk, fueled by social trends towards controversies and a lack of directly observable benefits. Students overlook career opportunities in this rapidly growing area due to an absence of firsthand exposure. Turning abstract awareness into personal familiarity is achievable through the enormous popularity of theses bioluminescent plants, bringing balance to public sentiment for this vital aspect of the bioeconomy. Light Bio creates novel biodesigns in living light. Through consumer-led applications of synthetic biology, Light Bio is opening new markets with products that have never existed before. Led by a team with deep experience in the development and commercialization of bioluminescence products, the company is sustained by its proprietary technologies backed by a strong patent portfolio. More information can be found at light-bio.com. ###