OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

What type of cell is yeast classified as?

1. Prokaryotic cell

2. Eukaryotic cell

3. Animal cell

4. Plant cell

The correct answer is: Eukaryotic cell

Yeast is classified as a eukaryotic cell, which is characterized by having a defined nucleus enclosed within membranes, alongside other organelles such as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. This differentiates eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells, which do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles. Yeast, specifically Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a type of fungus and thus shares characteristics typical of eukaryotic organisms. While it can exhibit some features commonly associated with plant or animal cells, it does not fit exclusively into either of those categories. For instance, yeast cells have a cell wall like plant cells, primarily made of glucans and mannans, but they lack chloroplasts and do not perform photosynthesis, which are definitive characteristics of plant cells. They also differ from animal cells as they can reproduce asexually through budding and have a cell wall, while animal cells typically do not possess cell walls. This understanding of yeast as a eukaryotic cell helps clarify its biological classification and characteristics in relation to other cell types.