This book, written by a distinguished scientist in the field, provides a comprehensive overview of the biochemical aspects of all luminous organisms currently known. It is the first and only book that provides chemical information on all known bioluminescence systems, in a single volume. Some 35 different types of bioluminescence organisms are discussed in 10 chapters. The descriptions include: a history of the discovery of luminescence substances such as luciferins, luciferases and photoproteins; the process of research, explaining how luminescent substances have been isolated and purified; the properties of luminescent substances; and the reaction modes and mechanisms involved, as interpreted currently. Important experimental data and graphs are included in the book, making time-consuming reference searches almost unnecessary. Helpful advice for experimentalists is given in an appendix.