Bovine serumal bumin (BSA) assisted synthesis of cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) exhibits remarkable changes in the optical properties of the QDs as well as BSA during their growth. The growth of these QDs was investigated by recording the UV–visible absorption spectra and room temperature steady state fluorescence at different time intervals after the mixing of the precursors. The growth of these QDs was associated with a quenching of the fluorescence from BSA. The fluorescence from these QDs was found to be associated with several features:(1) a gradual red-shift in its peak position, (2) increase in intensity with an iso emissive point up to few minutes from the time of mixing of the two precursors, and (3) subsequent decrease in intensity reaching a minimum value, which remains almost unchanged there after. The decrease and increase in the fluorescence from BSA and CdSeQDs, respec- tively have been explained on the basis of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) as well as the simultaneous growth of these QDs.