Crystal jelly
- Scientific name
- Aldersladia magnificus
- Phylum
- Cnidaria
- Class
- Hydrozoa
- Sting-o-meter
- 1/5
The Crystal jelly is the largest hydrozoan jelly and is famous for its ability to bioluminesce. The bioluminescence is produced by a protein, commonly called the ‘Green Fluorescent Protein’ or ‘GFP’. The GFP has revolutionised medical research because it can be artificially attached to other molecules and used to trace molecular pathways. In 2008 the team of researchers who discovered the GFP and developed its use in biomedicine were awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their work!
The bioluminescent bell of the Crystal jelly. Credit, Kylie Pitt.
