BBSRC competition finalist  

An image of a traditional British ale yeast strain has been shortlisted as a finalist in the BBSRC’s Images with Impact competition. Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC1026 is one of 4,000 strains collected and maintained in the National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC) at the Institute of Food research (IFR).

The yeast image was taken by Kathryn Cross, using a scanning electron microscope, from a sample prepared by colleagues in NCYC, a BBSRC supported National Capability at the Institute of Food Research. The image was false coloured by Carmen Nueno-Palop, to highlight the features of the yeast. The yeast cells are dividing by budding, and the scars visible on the cell surface are from previous cell divisions.

For millennia, humans have been using yeasts, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae for brewing and baking, making them the original biotechnology. Less well known are their roles in a variety of other bio-industries, making fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and biofuels. The National Collection of Yeast Cultures, in partnership with the Biorefinery Centre at the IFR, Norwich, has embarked upon a programme to improve yeasts for industrial applications using state-of-the-art techniques in microscopy and genomics.

The public vote is now open for the BBSRC Images with Impact competition, which has sought images that represented how life sciences are changing the world, in areas like: food, farming, bioenergy, biotech, industry and health. Anyone can vote for the winning pictures online at http://ilmt.co/PL/NXk  (closing October 31). The three category winners will go on to be shown at the Great British Bioscience Festival in London on 14-16 November where visitors will vote to decide the overall winner.