TED-Ed: Biofuels and bioprospecting for beginners - Craig A. Kohn

The video discusses the reliance on fossil fuels and their impact on climate change. It introduces biofuels as an alternative, highlighting their limitations. The focus shifts to cellulose-based ethanol, a more sustainable option, and the challenges in breaking down cellulose. Microorganisms that naturally produce cellulase enzymes are explored as a solution, with bioprospecting being a key method to find these microbes. The goal is to create a renewable fuel source from cellulose.

Describe the process of breaking down cellulose for energy production.

What is bioprospecting and how does it relate to finding solutions for cellulose breakdown?