Is Yeast a Prokaryote?

Yeast belongs to the kingdom Fungi. It has a cell wall and membrane-bound organelles, making it a eukaryotic organism. Yeasts fall under groups such as Ascomycota (sac fungi) and Basidiomycota.

• The order Saccharomycetales includes yeasts that form ascospores, grow as colonies, and show unique cellular physiology. While most yeasts are unicellular, some are organized into more complex forms. Their cells contain nuclei with genetic material, unlike bacteria.
• Yeasts are commonly found in soil, fruits, and on plant leaves. They are widely dispersed in nature and can also be found on the skin of animals. Some species live inside the bodies of warm-blooded animals and may form symbiotic relationships.
• An example is Candida albicans, a yeast that can live in the human body but is also responsible for causing vaginal yeast infections.
• Yeast cells may exist in either a haploid (one set of chromosomes) or diploid (two sets of chromosomes) state. They are capable of efficient DNA recombination and repair, which makes them valuable in genetics research.