Scientists from Purdue University (United States) are studying “genes involved in plant cell wall generation and learning their function”, with the objective of using the results to develop the next generation biofuel feedstocks. The so-called, “third generation biofuel feedstocks” can be described as ‘designer bioenergy crops” whose characteristics have been modified to suit a particular processing requirement (for example, bioenergy crops with low lignin content for cellulose ethanol production). The scientists, Nick Carpita and Maureen McCann, "will study genes involved in the formation of cell walls in the group of plants known as grasses, which includes corn”, with the aim of developing improved crops that can be processed into biofuels. According to Biological Science Associate Professor McCann, "Maize has the same genes arranged in the same order and on the same chromosomes as the other grasses. We'll switch genes on and off as we identify them to see what they do. Once we know the genes and their functions, then we can assess which ones might make good targets for modification for enhanced biomass and sugars for processing into biofuel.”.