News

Researchers from the DOE JGI and the Joint Bioenergy Institute identified genes in an E. coli microbial metabolism pathway that could improve the production of terpenes.

JBEI's CEO Jay Keasling was among 170 new fellows, recognized by the National Academy of Investors for outstanding contributions to innovation in patents and licensing, innovative discovery and technology, significant impact on society, and support and enhancement of innovation.

By manipulating a plant’s metabolic pathways, JBEI's Henrik Scheller and Dominique Loqué, have figured out a way to genetically rewire plants to allow for an exceptionally high level of control over the spatial pattern of gene expression, while at the same time boosting expression to very high levels.

Scientists Chris Petzold (left) and Trent Northen have put their doctorates in chemistry to work in their JBEI research and in their free time, where they’ve applied their interest in the science of soil, plants, and microbes to wine making. The results thus far have been impressive and enjoyable.

Researchers at JBEI led by Steve Singer, director of the Microbial Communities Group, have developed an automated software program for sorting the genomes of individual microbial species from metagenomic sequences. MaxBin facilitates the genomic analysis of uncultivated microbial populations that can hold the key to the production of advanced biofuels and other products.

On Sept. 10, The Economist announced JBEI’s CEO Jay Keasling as the winner of its 2014 Innovation Award in the Bioscience category. In addition to being JBEI’s CEO, Keasling is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley and Senior Faculty Scientist and Associate Lab Director at Berkeley Lab. He was recognized for his development of synthetic artemisinin used to treat malaria.