Measuring 1–3 mm long, gribbles are tiny wood borers that produce their own enzyme that can efficiently devastate wood. Researchers from NREL and elsewhere hope that by studying gribbles they can learn ways to improve the process of turning biomass into fuels. Since gribbles can break down biomass into sugars, even in harsh environments, they may be able to help as the industry searches for enzymes that can thrive in salt-rich, high-solids settings.
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