Genetically modifying plants and animals to make them glow in the dark usually involves genetic engineering techniques, especially the introduction, expression, and regulation of bioluminescent genes. The following are the basic steps and considerations to achieve this goal: 1. **Selection of luminescent genes**: Select genes that can produce bioluminescence, the most commonly used being green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the fluorescent jellyfish (Aequorea victoria), and the luciferase gene from some other organisms (such as fireflies). The firefly luminescence system is the most commonly used for genetic modification because their luminescence reaction is relatively simple and can be effectively expressed in a variety of cells. 2. **Construction of expression vector**: Using gene cloning technology, the selected luminescent gene is inserted into a suitable expression vector and a suitable promoter (such as a plant or animal-specific promoter) is added to ensure effective expression in the target cells. 3. **Gene transfer**: Use transgenic methods to introduce the constructed expression vector into the target plant and animal cells. For plants, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation or gene gun are usually used; for animal cells, viral vectors or electroporation may be used. 4. **Screening and identification**: After transfection, positive transgenic plants or animals need to be screened to ensure that the luminescent gene has been successfully integrated into the host genome and expressed in the cells. Identification can be performed by resistance markers or molecular biology techniques such as PCR or sequencing. 5. **Optimization of luminescence characteristics**: In the laboratory, it may be necessary to optimize luminescence characteristics, such as radiation intensity and light duration, for different conditions by adjusting the expression level of the luminescent gene or modifying the gene to achieve the best biological lighting effect. 6. **Ecological and ethical considerations**: When performing genetic modification, ecological impacts must be considered, such as the impact on natural ecosystems, as well as possible ethical issues, including the impact on ecological safety and biodiversity. Through the above steps, it is possible to achieve the goal of plants and animals glowing in the dark, thus providing a sustainable alternative to biological lighting. Scientists are constantly exploring various ways to modify organisms in order to create more efficient and environmentally friendly lighting solutions.