GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY - T.P. Pirog - 2004

9. YEASTS

9.1. MAIN STAGES OF YEAST RESEARCH

The Main Milestones in The Study of Yeasts are as follows:

6000 BC. Evidence of brewing in Egypt.

1000 BC. Evidence of the consumption of distilled alcoholic beverages in China.

1192 AD. Production of whiskey in Ireland.

1200–1300. Spread of brewing in Northern Europe. 1680. A. Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe yeasts.

1832. C.H. Persoon and E.M. Fries classified yeasts as Fungi.

1837. F.J. Meyen named brewer's Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1839. T. Schwann described yeast spores.

1863. L. Pasteur established The Role of yeasts in Fermentation.

1866. A. de Bary described The life cycle of yeasts.

1881. E.C. Hansen obtained pure cultures.

1896. E.C. Hansen published a scientific Classification of yeasts.

1897. E. Büchner reported that Cell-free yeast extracts are capable of carrying out fermentation.

1934. O.W. Winge discovered the alternation of Haploid and Diploid phases in the yeast life cycle.

1935. C.C. Lindegren discovered heterothallism in Saccharomyces.

20th century, second half. Widespread use of yeasts in biotechnology.



Last update: 13/08/2026

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