The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Life Sciences subprogram, strives to deliver fundamental knowledge of biological systems that can be used to address DOE needs in clean energy, carbon sequestration, and environmental cleanup. Fundamental research is supported in structural biology, genomics, and the health effects of low dose radiation. Human, animal, and microbial DNA sequencing is used to understand the genetic and environmental basis of normal and abnormal biological function, from human genes that make some people more sensitive to the adverse effects of low doses of radiation to the biochemical capabilities of complex microbial communities that could be used to produce clean energy or sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide.