Biofuels Project Overview

The rising cost of petroleum, coupled with the environmental concerns that go with its use, have led to a recent increase in biofuel research. With this research has come developments in using bacteria to produce biofuels such as isobutanol and ethanol. These alcohols are favored because they can easily be swapped into our current infrastructure of car and truck engines. At Gaston Day School, we have decided to launch a biofuel-focused project. To create the alcohols, we are developing alcohol-resistant strains of E. coli through artificial selection. Also, we are using PCR to amplify and clone the genes GlmZ, GlmY, and IlmV, which are used in native alcohol production or increased isobutanol resistance. The combination of these genes and the alcohol resistant strains are the first steps in our new biofuels project.