Glowing in a sea of darkness (discussed by the group on 10/23/13)

An image of the brain stem whereby different
structures are expressing different fluorescent
proteins to demonstrate the formation of
synapses between axons and neurons.  Photo Credit

The 20th century marked a vast development in the fields of genetics and biochemistry. During this time the structure of DNA was uncovered, enzyme function could be assessed through crystallography and NMR, and whole genome sequencing was being developed. With these advancements, however, there was still no mode of tracking the location of proteins or monitoring the cellular processes of proteins in a living system. The discovery of the green fluorescent protein (GFP), however, opened the doors for monitoring and viewing proteins in a cell. Osamu Shimomura first identified GFP in 1962 when he isolated the bioluminescent protein from the jellyfish, Aequorea victoria. It wasn't until 1994, however, when Martin Chalfie demonstrated the utility of GFP as a fluorescent marker. This discovery would later earn him a Nobel Prize alongside Shimomura. The ubiquitous use of fluorescent proteins in laboratories worldwide undoubtedly demonstrates the impact of this discovery.

• Paper: Chalfie et al., 1994

Extra: Shimomura et al., 1962