Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A Unicellular Model Genetic Organism of Enduring Importance

Abstract

Though perhaps best known for its roles in baking and brewing, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is found in a wide range of habitats and has been adapted for use in the laboratory. S. cerevisiae’s reputation as a powerful genetic model system stems in part from its remarkably efficient homologous recombination, which allows researchers to readily modify yeast genes. This genetic tractability also contributed to yeast's selection as the system of choice for Nobel laureates who studied everything from the cell cycle to membrane trafficking. As the first eukaryote to have its genome fully sequenced, S. cerevisiae has long been at the leading edge of genomic-scale research, including microarrays, systematic gene deletion, and more recently, construction of a fully synthetic eukaryotic genome. A dedicated, well-curated database, and a wide range of commercially available collections make it easy for new researchers to adopt this system to answer fundamentally important questions in eukaryotic cell biology. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.