Definition of Yeast genome

Yeast genome: All of the genetic information contained in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

The genomes of particular nonhuman organisms such as yeast have been studied for a number of reasons including the need to improve sequencing and analysis techniques. These nonhuman genomes also provide powerful sets of data against which to compare the human genome.

For example, a gene known to govern the rate of aging in yeast cells has been found to be active in mice, yielding a new insight into why mice and people age and, possibly, ways of enhancing life span.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) genome contains 12.1 million base pairs and is estimated to have 6,034 genes. The sequencing of this genome was completed in 1996.