The family of yeasts; that group of fungi comprising the ascomycetes which possess a predominantly unicellular thallus, reproduce asexually by budding, transverse division, or both, and produce ascospores in an ascus, originating from a zygote or pathogenetically from a single somatic cell. The term yeastlike fungus is often applied to fungi that are not known to form ascospores, but otherwise possess the characteristics of yeasts; such forms are properly placed with the Fungi Imperfecti unless methods of sexual reproduction are known; e.g., Cryptococcus neoformans.
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Sac·cha·ro·my·ce·ta·ce·ae .sak-ə-rō-.mī-sə-'tā-sē-.ē n pl a family of ascomycetous fungi (order Endomycetales) comprising the typical yeasts that form asci or reproduce by budding and that typically produce alcoholic fermentations in carbohydrate substrates
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Sac·cha·ro·my·ce·ta·ceae (sak″ə-ro-mi″sə-taґse-e) a family of fungi of the order Endomycetales, including unicellular yeasts that reproduce sexually by formation of ascospores; it includes the genera Hansenula, Saccharomyces, and Saccharomycopsis.Medical dictionary. 2011.