Interest in termite research for biofuel applications stems from the fact that termites and their gut-residing microorganisms (sometimes called “symbionts”) have evolved specialized cellulose-degrading enzymes which can be harnessed to develop more cost-effective cellulosic-ethanol production technologies. Scientists, like, Michael Scharf, an assistant professor of entomology at the University of Florida, Gainesville (United States) are beginning to study the pool of genes in both termite and the gut-residing microorganisms that code enzymes for the digestion of wood and lignocellulosic material. Initial studies on this pool of genes (also called the “digestome” by the researchers) indicated that “ the enzymes produced by the termites and their symbionts [gut-residing microorganisms] tend to work collaboratively, with the lignocellulosic material having to be partially digested by termite enzymes before it can be further digested by symbiont enzymes.”  According to Scharf, “This kind of digestome analysis could also be applied to other insects that feed on woody material, such as wood-boring beetles, and certain wasps and flies.”.