Scientists Map Genome of Fission Yeast

Scientists have mapped all the genes in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which they hope will provide new insights into basic cell biology and the development of cancer. An international team led by Nobel laureate Sir Paul Nurse of Cancer Research UK reported in the Feb. 21 issue of Nature that they had sequenced the genome of the cousin of brewer’s yeast, which had its genome mapped in 1997. It is the sixth organism to have its genome sequenced. The others include humans, the nematode worm, the fruit fly and mustard weed.

Fifty of the 4,824 genes in the fission yeast genome are linked to human diseases such as cystic fibrosis, hereditary deafness, diabetes and cancer. By studying the smaller and easier genome of fission yeast, scientists hope to discover new clues about cells and how diseases like cancer develop in humans.