Understanding bacterial mutation may increase biofuel production
A recent study by Belgian researchers aims to improve our understanding of how bacteria mutate their DNA to better survive. Scientists at the Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics at KU Leuven (University of Leuven) in Belgium hope that the findings will improve biofuel production by controlling bacterial mutation. "The hypermutation enabled us to obtain variants that are less susceptible to ethanol and that grow quickly. This means that we might be able to use them for more efficient biofuel production," said Professor Jan Michiels, who worked on the project. 
In Belgium, bacteria need mutations — changes in their DNA code — to survive under difficult circumstances. When necessary, they can even mutate at different speeds. This is shown in a recent study by the Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics at KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium. The findings open up various new avenues for research, ranging from more efficient biofuel production methods to a better treatment for bacterial infections and cancer.

When they’re under stress, bacteria start mutating to produce one or more DNA variants that make it possible for the bacteria to survive and reproduce. But mutating is dangerous under normal circumstances as it weakens the bacteria. The trick, therefore, is finding the balance between too many and too few mutations. Losing this balance means hypermutation: the cell mutates much more quickly than it normally does, eventually leading to death.