Chlorophyll in Ancient Bacteria: Biofuel Source?
(Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Scientists have discovered a new type of chlorophyll in ancient Australian bacteria that could lead to new sources of bio-energy.
Over the past 60 years, scientists have known of four types of chlorophyll used by plants to harvest light and convert it into chemical energy in the process called photosynthesis.
In a report published Friday in the journal Science, researchers said they found a fifth type of chlorophyll in a colony of bacteria in stromatolites at Shark Bay on the Western Australian coast.
…(Associate professor Robert) Willows (of Sydney’s Macquarie University) says the discovery could provide new ways to help crop plants and algae (used to create biofuel) grow more efficiently by making better use of available light. READ MORE and MORE (Science Magazine)