TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Enzyme: The glucoamylase variant (P1) comprises amino acid substitutions of: Asn61Ile, Leu417Gly/Arg/Val, Ala431Leu/Gln, and Ala539Arg; Ile43Gln/Arg, Leu417Gly/Arg/Val, Ala431Leu/Gln, Ala535Arg, and Ala539Arg; or Gly73Phe, Glu503Val, and Asn563Lys (preferably the glucoamylase variant (P1) comprises one of the following sets of substitutions, at positions of the (SEQ ID NO:2) or equivalent positions in a parent glucoamylase: selected from Asn61Ile/Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala539Arg; Ile43Gln/Asn61Ile/Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala539Arg; Asn61Ile/Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala535Arg/Ala539Arg; Ile43Gln/Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala535Arg/Ala539Arg; Ile43Gln/Asn61Ile/Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala535Arg/Ala539Arg; Ile43Gln/Asn61Ile/Leu417Val/Thr430Ala/Ala431Leu/Ala535Arg/Ala539Arg; Ile43Gln/Leu417Val/Thr430Ala/Ala431Leu/Gln511His/Ala535Arg/Ala539Arg/Asn563Ile; Asn61Ile/Leu417Val/Thr430Ala/Ala431Leu/Gln511His/Ala535Arg/Ala539Arg/Asn563Ile; Ile43Gln/Asn61Ile/Leu417Val/Thr430Ala/Ala431Leu/Gln511His/Ala535Arg/Ala539Arg/Asn563Ile; Ile43Arg/Asn61Ile/Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala539Arg; Ile43Arg/Asn61Ile/Leu417Val/Thr430Ala/Ala431Leu/Ala535Arg/Ala539Arg; Gly73Phe/Leu417Arg/Glu503Val/Ala539Arg/Asn563Lys; Ile43Arg/Gly73Phe/Leu417Arg/Glu503Val/Ala539Arg/Asn563Lys; and Ile43Arg/Gly73Phe/Glu503Val/Gln511His/Asn563Lys. The parent glucoamylase or the glucoamylase variant has a catalytic domain that has at least 80% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence of the (SEQ ID NO:1), (SEQ ID NO:2), or an amino acid sequence selected from defined amino acid sequences containing 453 (SEQ ID NO:3), 448 (SEQ ID NO:5), 449 (SEQ ID NO:6), 450 (SEQ ID NO:7), 441 (SEQ ID NO:8), and 453 (SEQ ID NO:9) amino acids, as given in the specification. The parent glucoamylase or the glucoamylase variant has a starch binding domain that has at least 95% sequence identity with the (SEQ ID NO:1), (SEQ ID NO:2), or an amino acid sequence selected from defined amino acid sequences containing 599 (SEQ ID NO:11), 604 (SEQ ID NO:385), 583 (SEQ ID NO:386), 569 (SEQ ID NO:387), 616 (SEQ ID NO:388), 615 (SEQ ID NO:389), and 596 (SEQ ID NO:390) amino acids, as given in the specification. The glucoamylase variant has (at least 85, preferably at least 90, especially at least 95, particularly at least 99.5)% sequence identity with the (SEQ ID NO:1) or (SEQ ID NO:2). The parent glucoamylase comprises or consists of the (SEQ ID NO:1) or (SEQ ID NO:2). The glucoamylase variant comprises at least one additional amino acid substitution corresponding to position selected from 43, 44, 61, 73, 294, 430, 503, 511, 535, or 563 of the (SEQ ID NO:2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase (preferably the amino acid substitutions are selected from Ile43Gln/Arg, Asp44Cys/Arg, Asn61Ile, Gly73Phe, Gly294Cys, Thr430Ala/Met, Glu503Ala/Val, Gln511His, Ala535Arg, and Asn563Ile/Lys of the (SEQ ID NO:2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase); and further comprises at least one additional amino acid substitution corresponding to position 10, 14, 15, 23, 42, 59, 60, 65, 67, 68, 72, 97, 98, 99, 102, 110, 113, 114, 133, 140, 144, 145, 147, 152, 153, 164, 182, 204, 205, 214, 216, 219, 228, 229, 230, 231, 236, 239, 241, 242, 263, 264, 265, 268, 269, 276, 284, 291, 300, 301, 303, 311, 338, 342, 344, 346, 349, 359, 361, 364, 375, 379, 382, 390, 391, 393, 394, 410, 418, 433, 436, 442, 444, 448, 451, 493, 494, 495, 502, 508, 518, 519, 520, 527, 531, 536, 537, or 577 of the (SEQ ID NO: 2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase (preferably the amino acid substitutions are selected from Thr10Ser, Thr42Val, Thr67Met, Glu68Cys/Met, Ala72Tyr, Ser97Asn, Ser102Ala/Met/Arg, Lys114Met/Gln, Ile133Thr/Val, Asn145Ile, Asn153Ala/Asp/Glu/Met/Ser/Val, Thr205Gln, Gln219Ser, Trp228Ala/Phe/His/Met/Val, Val229Ile/Leu, Ser230Cys/Phe/Gly/Leu/Asn/Gln/Arg, Ser231Leu/Val, Asp236Arg, Ile239Val/Tyr, Asn263Pro, Leu264Asp/Lys, Ala268Cys/Asp/Gly/Lys, Ser291Ala/Phe/His/Met/Thr, Ala301Pro/Arg, Val338Ile/Asn/Gln, Thr342Val, Ser344Met/Pro/Gln/Arg/Val, Gly361Asp/Glu/Phe/Ile/Leu/Met/Pro/Ser/Trp/Tyr, Ala364Asp/Glu/Phe/Gly/Lys/Leu/Met/Arg/Ser/Thr/Val/Trp, Thr375Asn, Lys394Ser, Arg433Cys/Glu/Gly/Leu/Asn/Ser/Val/Tyr, Ile436His, Thr451Lys, Thr495Lys/Mer/Ser, Gln508Arg, Ala519Ile/Lys/Arg/Tyr, Ala520Cys/Leu/Pro, Val531Leu, Val536Met, and Asn577Lys/Pro/Arg of the (SEQ ID NO:2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase). The glucoamylase variant exhibits increased thermostability as compared to the parent glucoamylase, and comprises at least one additional amino acid substitution corresponding to position 10, 42, 59, 61, 68, 72, 73, 97, 98, 99, 102, 114, 133, 140, 144, 152, 153, 182, 204, 205, 214, 216, 228, 229, 230, 231, 236, 241, 242, 263, 264, 265, 268, 269, 276, 284, 291, 300, 301, 303, 311, 338, 342, 344, 346, 349, 359, 361, 364, 375, 379, 382, 390, 391, 393, 394, 410, 430, 433, 436, 442, 444, 448, 451, 493, 495, 503, 508, 511, 518, 519, 520, 527, 531, 535, 536, 537, 563, or 577 of the (SEQ ID NO:2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase (preferably the amino acid substitutions are selected from Thr10Ser, Thr42Val, Glu68Cys/Met, Gly73Phe/Trp, Lys114Met/Gln, Ile133Val, Asn153Ala/Glu/Met/Ser/Val, Trp228Val, Val229Ile/Leu, Ser230Gln, Ser231Val, Asp236Arg, Leu264Asp/Lys, Ala268Asp, Ser291Aal/Glu/His/Met/Thr, Ala301Pro/Arg, Val338Ile/Asn/Gln, Ser344Met/Pro/Gln/Arg/Val, Gly361Asp/Glu/Phe/Ile/Leu/Met/Pro/Ser/Trp/Tyr, Ala364Asp/Glu/Phe/Gly/Lys/Leu/Met/Arg/Ser/Thr/Val/Trp, Thr375Asn, Arg433Cys/Glu/Gly/Leu, Arg433Asn/Ser/Val, Ile436His, Thr495Lys/Ser, Glu503Ala/Cys/Val, Gln508Arg, Gln511His, Ala519Lys/Arg/Tyr, Val531Leu, Ala535Lys/Asn/Pro/Arg, Asn563Cys/Glu/Ile/Lys/Leu/Gln/Thr/Val, and Asn577Lys/Pro/Arg of the (SEQ ID NO:2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase). The glucoamylase variant exhibits increased specific activity as compared to the parent glucoamylase, and comprises at least one additional amino acid substitution corresponding to positions: 10, 14, 15, 23, 59, 60, 61, 65, 67, 68, 72, 73, 97, 98, 99, 102, 110, 113, 133, 140, 144, 145, 147, 152, 153, 164, 182, 204, 205, 214, 216, 219, 228, 229, 230, 231, 236, 239, 241, 242, 263, 264, 265, 268, 269, 276, 284, 291, 300, 301, 303, 311, 338, 342, 344, 346, 349, 359, 361, 364, 375, 379, 382, 390, 391, 393, 394, 410, 418, 430, 433, 442, 444, 448, 451, 493, 494, 495, 502, 503, 508, 511, 518, 519, 520, 531, 535, or 536 of the (SEQ ID NO:2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase (preferably the amino acid substitutions corresponding to positions selected from Asn61Ile, Thr67Met, Ala72Tyr, Ser97Asn, Ser102Ala/Met/Arg, Ile133Thr, Asn145Ile, Asn153Asp, Thr205Gln, Gln219Ser, Trp228Ala/Phe/His/Met, Ser230Cys/Phe/Gly/Leu/Asn/Gln/Arg, Ser231Leu, Ile239Val/Tyr, Asn263Pro, Ala268Cys/Gly/Lys, Ser291Ala, Thr342Val, Lys394Ser, Thr430Lys, Arg433Tyr, Thr451Lys, Thr495Met, Ala519Ile, Ala520Cys/Leu/Pro, Ala535Arg, and Val536Met of the (SEQ ID NO:2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase). The glucoamylase variant exhibits both increased thermostability and increased specific activity as compared to the parent glucoamylase, and comprises at least one additional amino acid substitution corresponding to position 10, 15, 59, 61, 68, 72, 73, 97, 99, 102, 140, 153, 182, 204, 205, 214, 228, 229, 230, 231, 236, 241, 242, 264, 265, 268, 276, 284, 291, 300, 301, 303, 311, 338, 344, 346, 349, 359, 361, 364, 375, 379, 382, 391, 393, 394, 410, 430, 433, 444, 448, 451, 495, 503, 511, 520, 531, 535, or 536 of the (SEQ ID NO:2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase (preferably the amino acid substitutions are selected from Trp228Phe/His/Met, Ser230Cys/Phe/Gly/Asn/Gln/Arg, Ser231Leu, Ala268Cys/Asp/Gly/Lys, Ser291Ala, Arg433Tyr, Se451Lys, Glu503Cys, Gln511His, Ala520Cys/Leu/Pro, and Ala535Asn/Pro/Arg of the (SEQ ID NO:2), or an equivalent position in the parent glucoamylase). Alternatively, the glucoamylase variant (P1) comprises one of the following sets of substitutions, at positions of the (SEQ ID NO:2) or equivalent positions in a parent glucoamylase selected from Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala539Arg; Ile43Gln/Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala539Arg; Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala535Arg/Ala539Arg; Ile43Arg/Leu417Val/Ala431Leu/Ala539Arg; Leu417Arg/Ala431Leu/Ala539Arg; or L417G/Ala431Leu/Ala539Arg; where the glucoamylase variant does not have any further substitutions relative to the parent glucoamylase; and the parent glucoamylase has a catalytic domain that has at least 80% sequence identity with the (SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9); and further the parent glucoamylase has at least 80% sequence identity with the (SEQ ID NO:1) or (SEQ ID NO:2). The parent glucoamylase is selected from a glucoamylase obtained from Trichoderma spp., Aspergillus spp., Humicola spp., Penicillium spp., Talaromycese spp., or Schizosaccharmyces spp. (preferably Trichoderma spp. or Aspergillus spp.. Recombinant Methods (claimed): The method (M1) for producing the glucoamylase variant (P1) in a host cell involves: culturing the host cell (C1) under conditions suitable for the expression and production of the glucoamylase variant and producing the glucoamylase variant. The method (M1) further involves recovering the glucoamylase variant from the culture. EXAMPLE - Construction and characterization of combinatorial glucoamylase variant Gly73Phe/Glu503Val/Asn563Lys/Ile43Arg/Leu417Arg/Ala539Arg was prepared by PCR using specific primers, purified from large-scale fermentation, and performance index (PIs) of thermal stability and specific activities were determined. The combinatorial variant was constructed by using plasmid pDONR-Trichoderma reesei glucoamylase(TrGA) as the backbone. The methodology to construct combinatorial variants was based on Gateway technology. The following synthetic construct approach was chosen for the construction of combinatorial variant. The construct ctctct(XbaI site)(MF)gagagggg(attBI)(GAP combinatorial variant)(attBI sites)ccccagag(MR)(HindIII)agagag, was treated with restriction enzymes Xba-I and HindIII. The digested fragments were ligated into Xba-I/HindIII treated pBC (pUC19 derived vector). The ligation mixture was transformed to E. coli DH10B and plated onto selective agar supplemented with 100 mu g/ml ampicillin. The plates were incubated for 16 hours at 37 degrees C. Colonies from the selective plates were isolated and inoculated into selective liquid medium. After 16 hours incubation at 37 degrees C and 250 rpm the plasmids were isolated using a standard plasmid isolation kit and combined with pDONR 2.21 to create Gateway entry vector with the specific GAP combinatorial variant. The reaction mixture was transformed into E. coli Max efficiency DH5 alpha and plated on selective agar (2 x TY supplemented with 50 mu g kanamycin/ml). After overnight incubation at 37 degrees C, single colonies were picked for sequence analysis. The combinatorial variant was subcloned in pTrexTrTel and expressed in a Trichoderma reesei host strain as described in WO 06/060062. Variant was purified from large-scale fermentation i.e. 100 ml or 500 ml fermentation, and PIs of thermal stability (Ts) and specific activities were determined. The specific activities were determined using different substrates, including oligosaccharides i.e. sugars having a degree of polymerization of 2, 3, 5, or 7 i.e. DP2, DP3, DP5, DP7, respectively, cornstarch (CS), and liquefact (Liq). The PIs DP2, DP3, DP5, DP7, Cs and thermal stability (Ts) were 1.24, 1.47, 1.43, 1.33, 1.38, and 2.58 respectively.