Model Organism Teaching Tool for Saccharomyces cerevisiae

What makes this organism different from other model organisms? pt 2

Yeast are also the first eukaryotic genome to be entirely sequenced and is very amenable to genetic manipulation. Yeast cells are great model organism because they actually share many biological properties and processes with our own cells.

What makes this organism different from other model organisms?

Yeast is cheap, simple and easy to work with as they can survive in a variety of environmental conditions, and double every 2 hours.

What is required to maintain the organism in a lab?

Yeast strains are easily cultured in media that contains a carbon source, a nitrogen source, salts, vitamins and essential minerals. Your success in this lab will depend on your ability to use sterile culture and transfer techniques that will maintain the genetic isolation of your yeast strains.

What makes this organism different from other model organisms? pt 3

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has long been a popular model organism for basic biological research. In the lab it is easy to manipulate and controls cell division in a similar way to our cells.

What is specific area of or question in cell biology for which this organism is particularly well-suited as a model?

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful model organism for studying fundamental aspects of eukaryotic cell biology. Budding in which smaller daughter cells pinch, or bud, off the mother cell. The common name "budding yeast" derives from this notable feature of cell division and distinguishes S. cerevisiae from the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, also a powerful model organism.

What is its generation time? (Doubling time)

Their doubling time is approximately 90 min. S. cerevisiae can grow aerobically and anaerobically. Its ability to use different sugars depends on which way it grows.

How many offspring does an individual produce typically?

Under nutrient-poor conditions, diploids can be induced to undergo meiosis and sporulation, forming four haploid spores, two of each mating type. S. cerevisiae can exist as both haploid and diploid cells. The haploid cells undergo a simple life cycle of growth followed by mitosis. Under stressful conditions, the cells will die. The diploid cells also undergo growth and mitosis, although under stressful conditions, they will undergo meiosis and produce haploid spores. Under favorable conditions, the spores will then mate, producing a diploid cell.

How large is its genome - both in base pairs and in the number of genes?

S. Cerevisiae contains just over 12 million base pairs packaged in 16 chromosomes. The Yeast also has approximately 6,000 genes in all. About a third of these genes are related to human genes.

References

1. "An Introduction to Saccharomyces Cerevisiae." Protocol, www.jove.com/v/5081/an-introduction-to-saccharomyces-cerevisiae#:~:text=on%20grape%20skin.-,S.,using%20a%20bright%20field%20microscope. 2. "1996: Yeast Genome Sequenced." Genome.gov, www.genome.gov/25520379/online-education-kit-1996-yeast-genome-sequenced. Engel, Stacia R, et al. "The Reference Genome Sequence of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: Then and Now." G3 (Bethesda, Md.), Genetics Society of America, 20 Mar. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3962479/. "Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (ID 15)." National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/?term=Saccharomyces+cerevisiae%5BOrganism%5D&cmd=DetailsSearch. 3. Salari, Roshanak, and Rosita Salari. "Investigation of the Best Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Growth Condition." Electronic Physician, Electronic Physician, 25 Jan. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5308499/#:~:text=Their%20doubling%20time%20is%20approximately,on%20which%20way%20it%20grows. 4. Duina, Andrea A, et al. "Budding Yeast for Budding Geneticists: a Primer on the Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Model System." Genetics, Genetics Society of America, May 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4012490/. Foundation, CK-12. "12 Foundation." CK, www.ck12.org/book/ck-12-understanding-biodiversity/section/9.1/. 5. Libretexts. "4: Working with Yeast." Biology LibreTexts, Libretexts, 3 Jan. 2021, bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Cell_and_Molecular_Biology/Book%3A_Investigations_in_Molecular_Cell_Biology_(O%27Connor)/04%3A_Working_with_Yeast. 6. Addgenies, Various. "Five Popular Model Organisms." Addgene Blog, blog.addgene.org/plasmids-101-five-popular-model-organisms. 7. "Using Yeast in Biology." Stories, The Public Engagement Team at the Wellcome Genome Campus, 14 June 2016, www.yourgenome.org/stories/using-yeast-in-biology.

What is the size of a Saccharomyces Cerevisiae?

S. cerevisiae has a round to ellipsoidal ovoid shape and is typically 5-10 micrometers in diameter when visualized using a bright field microscope.