Pt. I, Five different bioluminescence systems :
1. A marine crustacean : bioluminescent fishes as plagiarists and thieves
2. Jelly fish and green fluorescent protein : a soft coral, a calcium-sensitive protein, and fish with related bioluminescence systems
3. Fireflies and other beetles : luciferase-dependent bioluminescence color and rhythmic displays
4. Dinoflagellates and krill : the sparkling clocks of the oceans and bioluminescent shrimp
5. Bacteria : bacterial "communication," symbioses, and milky seas
Pt. II, Diversity, functions, and evolutionary origins of bioluminescence :
6. Short accounts of other luminous organisms : having different and not well-characterized biochemistries
7. Bioluminescence in the oceans : anglerfish, dragonfish, and a Lake Baikal parenthesis
8. The many functions of bioluminescence : defense, offense, communication, and propagation
9. The origins and evolution of bioluminescence : how did luciferases originate?
Pt. III, Bookends :
10. Applications : tools for biology, medicine, and public health
11. How does life make light? : "excited molecules" and bioluminescence.