Question

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used in the commercial production of

• A. tetracyline
• B. citric acid
• C. ethanol
• D. butanol.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as baker's yeast or brewer's yeast, is a species of yeast in the fungi kingdom. It is widely utilized in the process of fermentation. Here's a detailed explanation of how it is involved in the commercial production of ethanol:

1. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is predominantly used in the alcohol fermentation industry. It has the capability to convert sugars such as glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide through the process of fermentation.
2. The biochemical reaction of fermentation is as follows:
   C_6H_{12}O_6 \rightarrow 2 C_2H_5OH + 2 CO_2.
   In this equation, glucose (C_6H_{12}O_6) is converted into ethanol (C_2H_5OH) and carbon dioxide (CO_2).
3. This process is vital in producing alcoholic beverages like beer and wine, as well as in the industrial production of bioethanol, which is used as a renewable energy source in the form of biofuel.
4. In the given options, although citric acid is another product of fermentation, it is primarily produced by the fungus Aspergillus niger, not Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
5. Meanwhile, tetracycline (an antibiotic) and butanol are not products that involve Saccharomyces cerevisiae in their production processes.

Therefore, the correct answer is ethanol, as Saccharomyces cerevisiae is utilized in its fermentation process commercially.