Scientists
from University of Texas at Austin generated bacteria producing
cellulose. According to the researchers, the cellulose is to be turned
into ethanol and other biofuels, Russian forestry review informed. The
microorganisms were developed by Malkolm Brown and David Nobles giving
cyanobacteria a set of cellulose-making genes from a non-photosynthetic
bacterium, Acetobacter xylinum.
They
belong to cyanobacteria and also produce glucose and sucrose which may
be used to produce ethanol. The new cyanobacteria use sunlight as an
energy source to produce sugars and cellulose. Moreover, all its
excrements can be harvested without harming or destroying the
microorganisms. The new bacteria produce a relatively pure, gel-like
form of cellulose that can be broken down easily into glucose.
Brown
sees a major benefit in using cyanobacteria to produce ethanol is a
reduction in the amount of arable land turned over to fuel production
and decreased pressure on forests.
