More for Less: Metabolic Engineering of Yeast

Ethanol is an important biofuel both in the United States and globally. Though various models exist for the production of ethanol on an industrial scale, one common thread is the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer's yeast) as a biological catalyst. This presentation will explore an ongoing research project being conducted at UW in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Thorsness. Dr. Thorsness' project seeks to use genetic and molecular techniques to alter the metabolic activity of yeast, ideally resulting in strains capable of producing 25% more ethanol than their peers. Additional interesting examples of metabolic engineering will also be discussed.