Australian Biotech Company Develops New Sugarcane Plants Optimized for Ethanol
13 April 2006
 |
| Farmacule’s plant genetic engineering process. Click to enlarge. |
Farmacule BioIndustries, a Australian biotechnology company focused on developing a sustainable molecular farming industry, and its research partner Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have developed new sugarcane plants that can be used for more cost-effective ethanol production without compromising the commercial sugar potential of these plants.
The approach modifies sugarcane plants using the Farmacule’s INPACT technology (and cellulases in the plant) to enable highly efficient conversion of cellulose into fermentable sugars after crushing. In other words, it is the sugars derived from cellulose that are used to produce ethanol (cellulosic ethanol), while the sucrose from sugarcane remains untouched and available for the consumer sugar market.
President Bush recently endorsed the cellulosic bioethanol approach, suggesting that it may come to market within six years. Farmacule’s genetic technology will make this a reality, producing viable plants that contain the cellulase enzyme to enable the cost-efficient production of ethanol as a by-product of the sugarcane.
—Mel Bridges, Farmacule Chairman
Farmacule introduced INPACT, its gene activation technology, at the 2006 Biotech Industry Organization annual conference in Chicago. Farmacule’s technology uses cellulase in the sugarcane leaf material to convert cellulose to fermentable sugars that could then be converted to ethanol.
The key to our approach will be to generate plants in which the over-expression of high levels of cellulase is tightly controlled, and activated when required, using our technology. This ensures that the sucrose used for consumer sugar is not sacrificed in any way—we would just be using the waste that’s left after the sucrose is extracted.
—Mel Bridges
According to Farmacule, major international sugar producers have expressed interest in the biofuel applications of the company’s technology.
Farmacule’s In-Plant Activation technology (INPACT) allows the insertion of a molecular switch into the basic operating machinery of a plant which can control the way proteins are produced, ultimately allowing large-scale, high-value protein production. As a controlled gene activation and expression technology, INPACT also allows controlled switching and expression to facilitate the late-stage production of proteins that would normally be toxic to plants.
Through INPACT’s application, genetically-enhanced plants can be produced which manufacture specific proteins in targeted areas such as leaves, roots and seeds. The technology also allows Farmacule to turn the production of genes on and off in plants when required—either in response to specific external or internal influences.
Could the same technology be applied to corn and other farm products.
Posted by: Harvey D. | 13 April 2006 at 09:53 AM
ethanol will bp future fule yo world
Posted by: harsha d n | 28 September 2006 at 12:04 AM
Dear Sir,
I'm Krishan live in Sri Lanka, I need Some Ones help. Please. Presently I’m working @ radio channel in Sri Lankan.[ siyatha FM ]. While working I’m studding Human Recourse Management Diploma at NIBM. Now I want to improve my knowledge and English language while working anywhere. Please help me find a job in your country because I want to improve my English language. I’m poor boy so I’ve no much money to find a job in any fringe country my self. So need your help. Please.
Thanking You
I’m Krishan
26/08/2007
PERSIONAL INFORMATION
NAME WITH INITIALS : R.K. RANASINGHE
FULL NAME : RANASINGHEGE KRISHANJEEWA
RANASINGHE
ADDRESS : 126/1, MAHAKANDA,
THUNNANA,
HANWELLA, 10650.
T.P. NUMBER : Mobile - 0773679356
Resident - 0602176709
E-MAIL : [email protected]
DRIVING LICENCE NO : W/CC1/07/11063
N.I.C. NUMBER : 831941219V
DATE OF BIRTH : 11.07.1983
GENDER : MALE
MARITAL STATUS : SINGLE
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• G.C.E. O/L [1999] INDEX NO : 90459709
MATHS 1 : D SCIENCE 1 : D
MATHS 11 : D SCIENCE 11 : D
RELIGION : D SINHALA : D
COMMERCE : D SOCIAL STD : D
ENGHLISH : C ART : C
• G.C.E. A/L [2002] INDEX NO : 7288298
PHYSICS : C
CHEMISTRY : S
COM-MATHS : S
HIGHER EDUCATION
• I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A COURSE IN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND A ADVANCE CERTIFICATE COURSE IN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
– NATIONAL INSTITIUT OF BISSUNESS MANAGEMENT
• PARTICIFATING – NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
– NATIONAL INSTITIUT OF BISSUNESS MANAGEMENT
• I HAVE PASSED CERTIFICATE COURSE IN INGLISH FOR CARREERS PART ONE CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO
• I HAVE PARTICIPATED – NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN COMPUTER APPLICATION COURSE [2000]
• I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED -
A MASS COMMUNICATION COURSE
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY FOR JOURNALISM
HEALTH JOURNALISM COURSE
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
• WORKED AS A RELIEF ANNOUNCER AND RELIEF PROGRAMM PRODUCER AT SLBC
• WORKED AS A PROGRAMME PRSENTER AT “NETH FM”
• WORKED AS A ASSOCIATE PROGRAMME PRODUCER, PRSENTER AND A NEWS CASTER AT VECTONE TV
• PRESENTLY WORKING AT “SIYATHA FM”
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION
• HAVE BEEN ATTENDING FOR RADIO PROGRAMMES AT SLBC SINCE 1996
• PRESENTLY ATTENDING FOR DUBBING PROGRAMMES AT SLRC AND SIRASA TV
• HAVE BEEN WRITTING RADIO DRAMA SCRIPTS AND PROGAMME SCRIPTS
• PRODUCED “GAMISARANIYA” LIVE PROGRAMME WITH PRODUCTION TEAM AT SLBC.
• PRODUCED LAMA PITIYA CHILDREN’S LIVE PROGRAMM AT SINHALA NATIONAL SERVICE FOR TWO YEARS.
• HAVE PRODUCED SPECIAL PROGRAMMES AT “RNN” NEWS CHANNEL.
• PRODUCED SPECIAL DISCUSSION PROGRAMME WITH PROFESSOR SARATH WIJESURIYA AT SINHALA NATIONAL SERVICE
• DOING RADIO COMMERCIALS AND OTHER PROGRAMMES.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• MEMBER- SEENIOR PREFECT OF THE SCHOOL [2001/2]
• PRESIDENT OF THE SCH00LSCIENCE SOCIETY [2001/2]
• PRESIDENT OF THE SUSARA RADIO CLUB AT SLBC [2002/3]
• MEMBER OF THE BOY SCOUT
• WORK WELL AS PART OF A TEAM
• VOICE RADIO & TV COMMERCIALS
• PARTICIPATED IN SOCIAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES
• WINNER- “SATHARA” ALL ISLAND SHORT STORY COMPETITION
THANKING YOU,
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
R.K. RANASINGHE
26/08/2007
Posted by: KRISHAN | 26 August 2007 at 05:56 AM
hello
dear sir or madam how are you we hope fine and we have a large suger cane farm here so please mail us back for more information
Posted by: dr_talla | 09 October 2008 at 10:10 AM