The liberation of sugars from plant cellulose (also called, “saccharification”) is a process component that contributes dominantly to the cost of ethanol production from cellulosic feedstocks.  Research is therefore underway to identify ways to improve cellulose degradation into fermentable sugars for ethanol, in order to bring down the cost of ethanol production. An article from Technological Review reports that scientists from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) are sequencing the genes of button mushrooms and other plant degrading organisms, to develop better and more cost-effective methods for biofuels production.  Mushrooms are known natural plant biomass degraders; they feed on decaying plant matter and utilize plant degradation products for their energy.  By sequencing the genes of these organisms, scientists hope to identify better performing enzymes and reactions that can be harnessed to improve the liberation of sugars from cellulosic biomass.  These genes could then be introduced into the ethanol fermenting organisms..