A new and more available source of biofuel may be in our future. Scientists have recently reported that they have now determined the entire genome of a strain of bacteria that lives in the gut of a particular termite that is very efficient in converting cellulosic fibers into sugars they use for food. These scientists hope this information will eventually help them engineer a process more efficient in making ethanol fuel.

Settled Science discusses a few of the many ways bacteria are helpful to all other living things and how man has already bred some strains to perform very important operations.

Source: Journal Nature by Dr. Eddy Rubin, Director Joint Genome Institute. November 23, 2007

Average user rating

   (0 vote)