Funding provided in part by:

The views expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the U.S. Department of Energy.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Genomics

The U.S. Department of Energy's Genomics:GTL systems biology program aims to achieve a predictive understanding of biological processes in plants, microbes, and microbial communities that can be applied to DOE missions in energy, climate stabilization, and environmental remediation.

GTL leverages strengths in genomics, computing, technology development, and multidisciplinary teaming to explore biological functions within the context of complex dynamic systems and, ultimately, to define unifying fundamental principles that control the behavior of all biological systems. Working from the DNA sequences of environmental samples, plants, and hundreds of microbial genomes, GTL will enable scientists to redesign proteins, biochemical pathways, and even entire plants and microbes important to DOE challenges and many other potential applications.

To improve climate change projections and strategies for carbon biosequestration, GTL is advancing current understanding of carbon cycling within marine and terrestrial ecosystems by studying the effects of climate change on the functions of plants and microbial communities at the genome level. To address energy challenges, scientists from three DOE Bioenergy Research Centers and other GTL projects are investigating biological approaches to producing ethanol and other advanced biofuels from cellulosic biomass. With community input, DOE is identifying and funding sustainability issues associated with large-scale biofuel production.

For more information, see the Genomics:GTL website.

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