Researchers successfully removed hemicellulose from corn stover using dilute sulphuric acid, creating a liquid rich in xylose and glucose. This liquid was then used to grow genetically modified E. coli bacteria that produced collagen similar to human collagen, using xylose as a key energy source. The bacteria consuming the xylose enhanced the collagen expression significantly, proving that the hemicellulose in corn stover can be harnessed efficiently for useful applications like boosting collagen production in bacteria.