Saccharomyces: The 5 Ws and One H

The monophyletic Saccharomyces sensu strictu genus is composed of 8 species and several interspecies hybrids. Strains of this genus have been used in various processes that form a significant part of human culture and history. These include brewing, baking, production of wine and several other fermented beverages, and more recently, the production of biofuels, drugs, and chemicals. They can be found in the most diverse environments on almost all continents worldwide. A prominent example is the species S. cerevisiae, which has a remarkable history with humankind. In the present chapter, we illustrate the habitats of the Saccharomyces species and their longlasting domestication process, as well as the hybridization that occurs between various species of this genus and their underlying industrial applications. We then finalize the text with an emblematic case study of its application in industrial sugarcane-based ethanol production, as performed in Brazil.