TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: The method additionally comprises: providing a fermentation medium; recovering the isoprene of step (b); and chemically modifying the recovered isoprene into the group comprising dimer (10-C) hydrocarbons and/or trimer (15-C) hydrocarbons. Preferred Components: The host transgenic microorganism further comprises at least one transgene comprising transgenes encoding hydroxymethylbutenyl diphosphate reductase, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase, 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase, 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, or 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase. At least one of the transgenes is isolated from Populus trichocarpa. At least one of the transgene is isolated from a non-E. coli source and where the transgene has been codon amplified for insertion into an E.coli host transgenic microorganism. The transgenes are Populus trichocarpa IDI or Populus trichocarpa IspS. The host transgenic microorganism is: E.coli; a photosynthetic cyanobacterium. The host transgenic microorganism additionally comprises flavodoxin or flavodoxin reductase. The fermentation medium comprises: glucose; or paper mill sludge hydrolysate produced by enzyme or acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of waste fibers from a pulp mill.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The oxidant is hydrogen peroxide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The dimer and/or trimer hydrocarbons are hydrogenated to long-chain, branched alkanes suitable for use in fuel or solvents. The dimer hydrocarbons are used in organosolv pulping.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The isoprene is polymerized with catalyst systems to form homopolymers of cis-3-polyisoprene. The isoprene is copolymerized with styrene or butadiene to produce an elastomer. The isoprene is polymerized with an oxidant to form hydroxyl-terminated polyisoprene. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.