News Ecosystems

From sea to squid, thanks to slime

Goo-making genes help luminescent bacteria colonize symbiotic partner

By Rachel Ehrenberg

- More than 2 years ago

BOSTON — Making mucus is nothing to sneeze at for a tiny Hawaiian squid.

SHINY AND STICKY The light-emitting bacteria that live inside the Hawaiian bobtail squid make a slimy goo that appears to help the bacteria set up house inside the squid. Margaret Mcfall-Ngai

Young bobtail squids secrete the goo to attract light-emitting bacteria, which swim inside the squid and take up residence, helping it hide from predators.