Danish researchers look at panda poo to find bacteria that break down cellulose

In Denmark, a team of researchers from the Department of Engineering and the Department of Bioscience at Aarhus University aims to convert lignocellulosic biomass into sustainable bioethanol special enzymes and microorganisms that, for millions of years, have specialized in the breakdown of this particular material in the intestines of pandas and slugs, and in ants’ fungus gardens.

“Among other things, we’ve collected a large amount of panda poo, and incubated the bacteria in the laboratory. We then fed bamboo to these bacterial colonies and found that they can very quickly break down lignocellulosic biomass into ethanol, lactate and hydrogen. The microbial culture that has developed in the gut of pandas seems to be quite unique,” the lead researcher said.