The genetic fingerprints of lager brewer's yeast serve to understand human evolution

Cyttaria harioti, principal hospedador de S. eubayanus en La Patagonia, Argentina. / Wikipedia

Article SINC Agency

The sequencing of 200 strains of Saccharomyces eubayanus, a wild species that contributed to the generation of the hybrid yeast responsible for lager beer, reveals a great diversity and genetic exchange of populations around the world. The analysis of this species of industrial interest also allows us to understand the evolutionary processes that occurred between modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans.

More than a decade ago, the discovery of the Saccharomyces eubayanus yeast in Patagonia (Argentina) closed the debate on the origin of the cold-tolerant yeasts responsible for the fermentation of lager beer, thanks to the hybridization of some of its strains. Since then, the study of the wild father of hybrid yeasts has revealed a complex natural history.

To explore the diversity, genetic variability and distribution of this species, an international team of scientists, with the participation of the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), has now sequenced the largest number of strains, a total of 200, the largest collection to date.

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