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Genetic Tools Development
Overview
In the current economic and political climate, there has been enormous attention focused on the need to develop sustainable and renewable sources of liquid fuel. Ethanol has a significant and growing role in this development, providing a cleaner, domestically-produced, renewable energy solution.
Ethanol in the U.S., however, is currently produced almost exclusively from corn, relying on an expensive and limited material. Processing ethanol from cellulosic biomass—wood, straws, fuel energy crops, paper pulp and agricultural waste products—significantly reduces the feedstock cost for fuel ethanol production. This in turn provides the opportunity to produce cellulosic ethanol far more cost-effectively than corn-derived ethanol.
In nature no organism is capable of quickly reducing and fermenting biomass sugars without significant formation of by-products. Our research laboratories are now developing a new generation of enzymes, microbes and processes for economical conversion of cellulosic feedstocks into ethanol. With this conversion will come a complete rethinking of the ways in which we fuel our economy.
Goals
To develop a novel mutagenesis tool compatible with high temperatures.
Deliverables
- Reports per normal coursework requirements
- Establishing temperature effects on function
- Proof-of-concept at elevated temperatures
Required Facilities
Specialized materials, consumables and work space will be provided at the R+D facilities.
Knowledge Areas Needed for Project
- Biochemical engineering
Proprietary Information and Confidentiality Requirements
- Confidentiality required for sponsor-provided information
- Intellectual property ownership rights retained by sponsor
- Sponsor accepts responsibility to discuss IP ownership directly with the student project team and project advisor