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This is Science Friday. I'm Flor Lichten. Today in the podcast, scientists have figured out how to attach a tiny lantern to a key piece of cellular machinery.

We're very much interested in being able to use the lantern to be able to track the spread of different viruses,

to learn more about ways to treat infection.

The inner workings of our bodies and our cells can be kind of a black box. We know that all

these itsy-bitsy molecules are constantly working and churning to keep us alive, but the details of

their comings and goings and interactions can be hazy. But a new technology that blends bioluminescence with cellular

machinery may shine some light. Scientists had this bright idea. Take that same enzyme that makes

fireflies glow and tie it to RNA, the molecule that reads the genetic info in DNA. And the hope is that these light up molecules can help illuminate how viruses replicate

or even how memories form in the brain.

Joining me now to tell us more about their research are my guests, Dr. Andre Louptok,

Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine,

and Dr. Jen Pressure, Professor of Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, and Dr.

Jen Pressure, Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine.

Welcome to Science Friday.

Hello.

Great to be here.

Okay.

Andre, refresh our memories.

Remind us quickly what RNA does.

Well, RNA is the first molecule that gets made as the genetic information that's encoded in DNA is executed. And the first thing that would happen if you say,

okay, go do this, go do that. That, on the molecular level, what you're doing is you're

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