ABSTRACT The origin of bioluminescence was considered a problematic question of the Charles Darwin theory of evolution. The problem is that it is generally believed that the function of bioluminescence is directly associated with the visual behaviour of organisms. However, results of recent studies revealed that bacterial bioluminescence may have a role in stimulation of DNA repair and detoxification of the deleterious oxygen derivatives. It is proposed that these processes could be evolutionary drives at early stages of development of light-emitting biological systems, until emission of photons became sufficiently high to ensure ecological benefits of luminescent organisms.
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