Researchers Engineer New Methane-Production Pathway in Microorganism

University of Arkansas Newswire
Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Research opens door to possible conversion of biomass to natural gas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A University of Arkansas researcher and his colleagues have created the first methane-producing microorganism that can metabolize complex carbon structures, which could lead to microbial recycling of waste products and their transformation into natural gas.

Daniel J. Lessner, assistant professor of biological sciences, and his colleagues Lexhan Lhu, Christopher S. Wahal and James G. Ferry of Pennsylvania State University, published their findings in mBio. Lessner conducted the research as a postdoctoral associate at Penn State.

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