Biofuels and bioprospecting for beginners - Craig A. Kohn

  • 99,445 Views
  • 8,362 Questions Answered
  • TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Biofuels can provide energy without the reliance on environmentally harmful fossils fuels -- but scientists are still searching for a plentiful source. Craig A. Kohn demonstrates how cellulose, the naturally abundant tough walls of plant cells, might be the solution.


Customize this lesson141

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Craig A. Kohn
  • Director Hache Rodriguez
  • Artist Ivan Espinell
  • Narrator Craig A. Kohn
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Bioprospecting Classroom Activity
Video explanation of the lab protocol
Shorter video explaining how the activity connects to ongoing research
Clarification: The cellulose molecule (depicted at 1:57) is (C6H10O5)n.
3 Guided Discussions
0 Open Discussions
TED-Ed
Lesson Creator
New York, NY
Bioprospecting does not just apply to biofuels; this process is utilized by many different indust...
Think of at least one example of how bioprospecting is used by the following: medicine; agriculture; industrial applications.
05/13/2013 • 
 7 Responses
 / 7 Updates
View discussion
05/13/2013 • 
 11 Responses
 / 11 Updates
View discussion

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Craig A. Kohn
  • Director Hache Rodriguez
  • Artist Ivan Espinell
  • Narrator Craig A. Kohn

More from Troubleshooting the World