Genus of Ascomycetes yeasts. Normally haploid unicellular fungi that reproduce asexually by budding.
Also have a sexual cycle in which cells of different mating types fuse to form a diploid zygote. Economically important in brewing and baking and are also suitable eukaryotic cells for the processes of genetic engineering and for the analysis of, for example: cell division cycle control by selecting for mutants (see cdc genes). Saccharomyces cerevisiae is baker's yeast, saccharomyces carlsbergensis is now the major brewer's yeast.
See: Schizosaccharomyes pombe.
(17 Dec 1997)