Okay, who wants to go first?” The frigid Tennessee air remains motionless. No one replies. As the Argos approach the pen, the animals become interested in this odd group of humans. Called alpacas, the fleece-covered grazers resemble llamas. Curious, they walk toward their two-legged visitors.

The alpacas stare wide-eyed. Perhaps they wonder if the Argos will bring treats.

“Careful, one might spit,” warns Dr. Martin Keller of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He continues, “Who wants to take the first sample?”

The Argos, smiling uncomfortably, look at each other. Graciously, the Argos volunteer each other for the task that lies ahead—and what a task it is!

Dr. Keller’s research focuses on the production of biofuels. Although a good deal of his scientific work occurs in the lab, he also goes into the field to collect living specimens. The kinds of organisms he studies are microbes that live in the scat, or droppings, of grazing animals or within the guts of wood-boring insects.

“Look! I think there’s a fresh sample in the making!” announces an Argo.

Using a scoop fashioned from a tin cup fixed to the end of a stick, they collect fresh samples of scat. Still warm, the droppings are placed in containers and readied for analysis in Dr. Keller’s lab. Later in the day, the samples will be brought to the lab.

The scientists are most interested in finding the enzymes from bacteria that have passed through the digestive tract of an alpaca. Using high-powered microscopes, these microbiologists search for cellulose-digesting bacteria that transform plant material into simple sugars that can be easily used for biofuel production. Perhaps these samples will contain microbes whose genes hold the key.

Mission 4 Briefing Video Prepare for your mission by viewing this briefing on your objectives. Learn about alternative energy sources like biofuel, solar, and geothermal resources.