Baker's Yeast

Description:

I'm starting a project at my local science center to show kids how fungi effect the food we eat in good and bad ways. This one of the good ways, looks yummy yeah? Many proteins important in human biology were first discovered by studying their homologs in yeast; these proteins include cell cycle proteins, signaling proteins, and protein-processing enzymes. S. cerevisiae is currently the only yeast cell known to have Berkeley bodies present, which are involved in particular secretory pathways. Of course this species is used in baking (as are some others) and makes bread rise and be all poofy. This was a live culture made in a petri dish.

Habitat:

You have baker's yeast on your skin right now. No kidding. It's on you. It's one of many organisms on your body. Can you feel it? In nature yeast cells are found on ripe fruits. Since its not airborne it need a vector to move. Strangely enough this yeast can also be found in overwintering wasp species.