Which statement correctly describes yeast?

Which statement correctly describes yeast?

• A. Yeast are unicellular
• B. Yeast are multicellular
• C. Yeast form hyphae
• D. Yeast reproduce by spores

Answer: (A)

Yeast are single-celled fungi, which is why they’re described as unicellular. In practice you see yeast as oval cells that divide by budding, where a new daughter cell forms off the parent. That budding pattern is the typical way they reproduce, supporting their unicellular nature. Hyphae are the long filamentous threads you associate with molds, and yeasts don’t grow as a filamentous network like that—though some species can form short chains called pseudohyphae under certain conditions, these aren’t true hyphae and don’t change their overall unicellular character. Some yeasts can undergo sexual reproduction and produce spores, but spore formation isn’t their primary mode of propagation. So, the best general description is that yeast are unicellular organisms.

Yeast are single-celled fungi, which is why they’re described as unicellular. In practice you see yeast as oval cells that divide by budding, where a new daughter cell forms off the parent. That budding pattern is the typical way they reproduce, supporting their unicellular nature. Hyphae are the long filamentous threads you associate with molds, and yeasts don’t grow as a filamentous network like that—though some species can form short chains called pseudohyphae under certain conditions, these aren’t true hyphae and don’t change their overall unicellular character. Some yeasts can undergo sexual reproduction and produce spores, but spore formation isn’t their primary mode of propagation. So, the best general description is that yeast are unicellular organisms.