Soft and hydrated samples present unique challenges when determining structural integrity. Mechanical strength may be a critical factor in evaluating the sample in question. For example, genetic manipulation can change the chemical composition of plant cell walls. One goal would be producing strong plants whose stems and leaves lend themselves to easy break down for the production of ethanol. Arabidopsis is an ideal test sample for cell wall manipulation since the genetic strains are so well documented. However, these plants are quite small and mechanically testing the integrity of the walls can be problematic in the laboratory setting.