Yeast is a single cell organism, which is usually a thread and filamentous in shape, appear white or colourless and divide asexually. On the other hand’s Molds are multicellular, appearing round or oval shape and appear in various colour, they divide sexually or asexually.
There are 1500 types of yeast present; they are used in industry for the baking purpose, additive, in alcohol production, food beverages. Yeast is very common and can be found in fruits, vegetables, on the skin of mammals and among other places.
Whereas, there are around 400,000 types of molds found. They are also used in industry for cheese making and another process. Though molds can be sometimes hazardous also by causing respiratory infections and allergies. Molds are usually found in damp, dark or steam-filled areas.
Yeast and Molds are microorganisms, but both are Eukaryotes and belongs to the kingdom fungus. Eukaryotes are known for having well-defined nucleus along with other cell organelles with specific functions. Being of the same kingdom, both differ in function, appearance, colour, and mode of reproduction.
Content: Yeast Vs Mold
Comparison Chart
| Basis for Comparison | Yeast | Mold |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Yeast is a type of single cell microorganism, falls under kingdom fungi. | Molds are multicellular microorganisms, usually colorful and also fall under kingdom fungi which grow in a multicellular filaments called hyphae. |
| Kind of cell | Single cell. | Multicellular. |
| Shape | Filamentous or Threadlike. | Round or oval. |
| Presence of Hyphae | Pseudo-hyphae i.e. they don't have true hyphae. | Hyphae (microscopic filaments). |
| Presence of Spores | Non-Sporous fungi. | Sporous fungi. |
| Types | There are 1500 types of yeast. | There are 400,000 types of molds. |
| Mode of Reproduction | Asexual through mitosis. Common method is budding and spores formations. | Sexual or asexual. |
| Colour | Colourless and smooth (usually white). | Colourful, wooly and fuzzy (green, orange, black, brown, pink, purple). |
| Aerobic/Anaerobic | Yeast can grow in aerobic as well as in anaerobic conditions. | Mold grow only in aerobic conditions. |
| Uses | Yeast is used in beverages production like alcohol and also in making of baking, bioremediation, food additive. | Useful in biodegradation, food production (cheese), in making antibiotics. |
| Health Hazards | Yeast may weaken the immune system of the body and may contribute in asthma, crohn's disease. | Molds may cause allergies, respiratory problems. |
| Examples | Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baking yeast), Cryptococcus neoformans, etc. | Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, etc. |
Definition of Yeast
Yeast is the single cell microorganisms considered as eukaryotes and so have a well-defined nucleus and other organelles. Though they reproduce asexually by binary fission or budding method where nucleus splits in two and daughter nucleus moves into the bud cell. These bud cells continue to grow until it splits from their parent cell.
Yeast is usually colourless, thread and filamentous structure and do not have true-hyphae. There are 1500 types of yeast present till yet. Yeast is very common and can be found in fruits, vegetables, on the skin of mammals and among other places.
They require organic hosts to derive nutrition and have the ability to break down carbohydrates and cause fermentation to produce energy either aerobically or anaerobically. As a result, most yeast spoilage is detectable as an ‘off’ flavor” because of fermentation which results in the production of gas.
Yeast has the capability to convert carbohydrates to alcohol and carbon dioxide. Due to these reasons, they are used in the production of ethanol for alcoholic beverages, in baking, etc. They may also cause infection in peoples by compromising immune system like candidiasis in humans is caused by yeast candida and may contribute to asthma, Crohn’s disease. Other examples of yeast are Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baking yeast), Cryptococcus neoformans, etc
Definition of Molds
Molds are multicellular, eukaryotic microorganisms which reproduce sexually or asexually if they reproduce sexually it is by meiosis and if asexually then it is by mitosis. They are characterized by having filamentous hyphae and have airborne spores. There are 3500 of molds found commonly seen in damp, dark or steam-filled areas.
Molds act as decomposers by decomposing nature’s organic wastes; they are also used in medicine especially in making antibiotics. Molds secrete hydrolytic enzymes from hyphal tips, which degrade starch, cellulose, and lignin.
Molds are often used in the production of food and beverages like cheese, rennet, salami, also in antibiotics such as penicillin, Lovastatin (cholesterol- lowering), cyclosporine (immunosuppressants). Certain molds also can be hazardous to health that can cause allergies, other respiratory problems, headaches, rashes, itching, etc.
Examples of molds are Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, etc.
Key Difference Between Yeast and Molds
Following are the substantial and noteworthy key differences between Yeast and Molds:
- Yeast and Molds both belong to the kingdom fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms, but yeast is single-celled organisms, which reproduce asexually mainly by binary fission or budding, whereas Molds are multicellular reproduce sexually or asexually.
- There are 1500 types of yeast present and commonly found in fruits, vegetables, on the skin of mammals and among another place; the number of types of molds is 400,000 which is commonly seen in damp, dark or steam-filled areas.
- Yeast is a colourless, filamentous and thread-like structure with pseudohyphae and no spores, yeast can grow aerobically as well anaerobically; Molds are characterized by colorful with hyphal filaments as well as a presence of spores in structure and can grow in aerobic conditions only.
- Yeast is used industrially in making food beverages, alcohol, etc.; Molds are used in making cheese, rannit, and antibiotics (penicillin), Lovastatin.
- Yeast may cause infection with compromising immune system whereas Molds also causes allergies and other respiratory diseases.
Conclusion
Yeast and Molds both are the types of fungi, though having different characters and uses. As above discussed, Yeast is the type of fungi which exist as the single cell, reproduce asexually used in food beverages, alcohol, etc. On the other hand, Molds are multicellular with hyphae and can reproduce sexually or asexually; they are used in making antibiotics, cheese making, etc.
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