Plant gene mapping may lead to better biofuel production

By creating a “**family tree**" of genes expressed in one form of woody plant and a less woody, herbaceous species, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have **uncovered** clues that may help them **engineer** plants more amenable to **biofuel** production. The study, published in the April 2009 issue of Plant Molecular Biology, also lays a foundation for understanding these genes’ evolutionary and structural properties and for a broader exploration of their roles in plant life. "DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory":[ http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/PR_display.asp?prID=928]

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