Author: Jason Shoemaker

Scientists are using enzymes to build new materials from the polysaccharides available in plant biomass. Scientists collaborating through the Center for Bioenergy Innovation recently compiled research about new ways to turn plant polymers into environmentally friendly products. These plant-based materials are carbon-neutral, renewable and biodegradable, making them ideal for replacing petroleum-based plastics and chemicals. They […]

UGA graduate student Yen-Ho Chen evaluates poplar trees during a greenhouse experiment. Credit: Yen-Ho Chen/UGA A recent study funded through the Center for Bioenergy Innovation provided an enhanced picture of the function of a key protein in tree leaves. These findings build toward a broader effort to make trees more resilient to stress, such as […]

At the University of North Texas, researcher Chunliu Zhuo conducts genotyping and lignin analysis to distinguish transgenic plants from non-transgenic plants. Credit: Chunliu Zhuo/University of North Texas Scientists working with the Center for Bioenergy Innovation are developing a deeper understanding of natural processes that could make biofuel byproducts more useful. Turning biomass into marketable products […]

A study coordinated by the Center for Bioenergy Innovation defined key differences between two bacteria, a critical step in bioengineering microbes to produce ethanol more efficiently. The two bacteria studied have different strengths related to biofuel production. The first, called Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum, is relatively easy to genetically engineer so that it makes ethanol exclusively, without […]