Image provided by Mayandi Sivaguru, Core Facilities
Research funded by the Institute for Genomic Biology
This image gives a closer look at the cells inside a stem of Miscanthus, a perennial grass. Although different cell types within the stem have different shapes and sizes, they all share a common structural feature; the wall of each cell is strengthened by cellulose, a complex sugar. If researchers can develop an efficient process to convert cellulose into fuel, Miscanthus could become a major sustainable fuel source.