It seems that they have genetically engineered bacteria to produce cellulosic ethanol much more efficiently. The bacteria in question is Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum, a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium, now with the genes involved in organic acid formation knocked out, so that it produces ethanol as the only detectable organic product. Also, it functions at 50 C, and the higher temperature means it needs 2.5 times less cellulase.

 

http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn14693-new-bug-ferments-green-fuel-on-the-cheap.html

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2008/09/06/0801266105

 

Obviously, a cheaper way to turn cellulose into ethanol could mean at least a partial solution to our oil crisis.

I like it!

Ethanol from corn was never going to be more than a drop in the ocean, and acts to boost food prices in a hungry world. Whole plant digestion using these new bugs seems a lot more practical. We can digest the corn plant - all except the food grain - and make far more fuel.

One question where i can ger that now??????????