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Genome sequencing

Brouhaha over the other yeast

Nature volume 415, pages 845–847 (2002)Cite this article

The sequencing of the fission-yeast genome allows researchers to compare it with that of its cousin, budding yeast, and to identify genes that may distinguish eukaryotes (such as yeast) from prokaryotes (such as bacteria).

Having a famous relative can be a mixed blessing. This is certainly the case for the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, commonly referred to as 'fission yeast' both because it divides by binary fission and to distinguish it from its distantly related cousin, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or 'budding yeast'. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is considered by many to be the single-celled model for research into eukaryotes1 (those organisms, including humans, whose cells have a defined nucleus) and is also of major industrial importance. So, although those studying S. pombe have benefited from discoveries about S. cerevisiae, the fission yeast is often viewed as 'the other yeast', taking a back seat in research and funding.

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Figure 1: The tree of life, with the branches labelled according to Wood et al.'s analysis4 of genes that might be specific to eukaryotes versus prokaryotes, and to multicellular versus single-celled organisms. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes (they do not have nuclei).

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  1. The Institute for Genomic Research, 9712 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, 20850, Maryland, USA

    Jonathan A. Eisen

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Correspondence to Jonathan A. Eisen.

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Eisen, J. Brouhaha over the other yeast. Nature 415, 845–847 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature725

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