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AAT Bioquest

Is yeast eukaryotic or prokaryotic?

Posted October 13, 2020


Answer

Yeast is a eukaryotic organism.

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms are differentiated by their cellular complexity. Eukaryotes are more highly evolved. Their genetic material or DNA lies embedded within a double-layered nuclear membrane. They also contain segmented organelles such as mitochondria, golgi body, lysosomal vehicles, and others, each of which is programmed to perform specific functions. Prokaryotes are more primitive. They lack defined structural features, the nucleus is absent, and their genetic material is scattered randomly within their cytoplasm.

The DNA enclosed within a membrane and the segmented structures make yeast a eukaryotic organism. 

Additional resources

Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a versatile eukaryotic system in virology

Cell Structures and Organelles

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