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Genomic Science Program

Today, scientists have in hand the complete DNA sequences of genomes for many organisms—from microbes to plants to humans. The U.S. Department of Energy's Genomic Science program (formerly Genomics:GTL) uses microbial and plant genomic data, high-throughput analytical technologies, and modeling and simulation to develop a predictive understanding of biological systems behavior relevant to solving energy and environmental challenges including bioenergy production, environmental remediation, and climate stabilization. Learn More »
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Biofuels

Alternative fuels from renewable cellulosic biomass are expected to significantly reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil while enhancing national energy security and decreasing the environmental impacts of energy use. Developing a cost-effective, commercial-scale cellulosic biofuel industry will require transformational biological research in feedstock development, biomass deconstruction, and fuel synthesis. Learn More »


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Knowledgebase

Driven by the ever-increasing wealth of data resulting from new generations of genomics-based technologies, systems biology is demanding a computational environment for comparing and integrating large, heterogeneous datasets and using this information to develop predictive models. To address this challenge, the Genomic Science program is developing the DOE Systems Biology Knowledgebase. Learn More »


Click to learn more about carbon cycling and the climate.

Carbon Cycling and Climate

The global carbon cycle plays a central role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and thus Earth’s climate, but our basic understanding of the tightly interlinked biological processes driving the carbon cycle remains limited. Advancing our knowledge of these processes is crucial to predicting potential climate change impacts, assessing the viability of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, and informing relevant policy decisions. Learn More »


Now Featuring

FUNDING CALL: Genomic Science: Biosystems Design to Enable Next-Generation Biofuels


Biosystems Design: DRAFT Report from the July 2011 Workshop


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Genomic Science-Related BER Research Highlights

  • Protein Complex Within Plant Cell Wall Associated with Secondary Cell-Wall Synthesis [Nov 30, 2011]
    The plant cell wall polysaccharide pectin is often associated with the tissue softening that occu [more...]
  • Designing Low Lignin, High Biomass Yielding Plants [Nov 28, 2011]
    The major barrier to the efficient conversion of biomass from plant feedstocks to biofuels is bre [more...]
  • Microbial Conversion of Switchgrass to Multiple Drop-In Biofuels [Nov 28, 2011]
    The low efficiency and high cost of enzymes used to break down plant material into sugars remains [more...]
  • How do Microbes Adapt to Diverse Environments? [Nov 22, 2011]
    Earth's microbes live in staggeringly diverse environments, colonizing habitats with extremes of [more...]
  • Permafrost Microbes Could Make Impacts of Arctic Warming Worse [Nov 06, 2011]
    In Earth’s Arctic regions, frozen soils (permafrost) sequester an estimated 1.6 trillion metric t [more...]
  • More BER Research Highlights »