Craig Snell

This project focused on cephalopod reflectin protein as a source of bioinspiration for human-visible light applications. The research explores the squid's ability to change color to create an abiotic device that generates specific wavelengths of light. By manipulating reflectin's structure with varying pH levels and introducing an acceptor molecule such as ANS, this project demonstrates a process called Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) where the fluorescence of a prominent amino acid in the reflectin sequence can be shifted from the ultraviolet spectrum to the human visible spectrum, enabling the generation of distinct, visible colors. The overall goal is to understand and utilize the squid's biological machinery for potential applications in a reversible colored device or display.