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Saccharomycetales

order of fungi
Also known as: ascomycete yeast

Quick Summary

The Saccharomycetales are an order of fungi, commonly known as yeasts. A key characteristic of this group is their ability to ferment sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.123

The most well-known species is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has been used by humans for thousands of years in baking, brewing, and winemaking. This yeast is also a vital model organism in scientific research, particularly in genetics and molecular biology, due to its well-understood genome and cellular processes. Its contributions have aided discoveries in areas like cell cycle regulation and gene expression, and it continues to be used in biotechnology for producing pharmaceuticals and biofuels.3

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