Biofuels: Bringing Biological Solutions to Energy Challenges

Alternative fuels from renewable biomass (plant material) have the po- tential to significantly reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil. Several scientific breakthroughs, however, are needed to make biofuels a cost-effec- tive alternative to fossil fuels. Building on advances in DNA technologies resulting from the Human Genome Project, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Genomics:GTL systems biology program is creating a new generation of biological research. This research will accelerate the understanding and application of plant and microbial systems central to producing biofuels, cleaning up the environment, and managing the global carbon cycle.