New Brunswick Craft Brewers Association

Brewing => Yeast => Topic started by: Richard on January 31, 2011, 09:57:00 PM

Title: Yeast Evolution
Post by: Richard on January 31, 2011, 09:57:00 PM
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 094834.htm (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100514094834.htm)

"The ability of yeast cells to convert sugar to alcohol, the key process in the production of beer and wine, can be attributed to a remarkable evolutionary process. The genes that allow yeast to digest sugars in fruits and grains have been duplicated several times over the course of time — allowing for optimal conversion of different types of sugars (such as sucrose and maltose) into alcohol. The duplications arose because the genes for sugar processing are situated close to the unstable margin of the chromosome. The phenomenon appears not to be limited to alcohol production in yeast, but forms an important principle in the evolution of living organisms."

So beer is evidence for evolution. I'll drink to that.

Slainte!