Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a heterothallic species and require the presence
of two mating strains of yeast cells that have been designated as "a"
and "a". Fusion of the two mating strains will produce the
zygote.
Unlike other species of fungi, the life cycle of this species is not
zygotic. The diploid cell does not undergo meiosis and will assimilate food and
reproduce asexually for a time. Thus, there is a true alternation of generations
and this species has a sporic life cycle.
The life cycle is completed when meiosis occurs in the diploid yeast cells
and each of the four nuclei becomes an ascospore 
Two will be of the "a" and the other two will be of the
"a" mating strains. The original cell wall of the diploid yeast cell
is the ascus.
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