Contact: Diana Yates, Life Sciences Editor
diya@illinois.edu
217-333-5802
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Roderick Mackie, University of Illinois

Caption: University of Illinois animal sciences professor Roderick Mackie and his colleagues found dozens of enzymes in the cow rumen that help degrade plant material. This research could help overcome a major challenge in biofuel production -- finding an efficient way to release the energy stored in the plant cell wall.

Credit: L. Brian Stauffer

Usage Restrictions: Photo may be used only with stories about the research described in the news release. Please credit: L. Brian Stauffer

Related news release: Team looks to the cow rumen for better biofuels enzymes