How do yeast cells primarily reproduce?

Yeast cells primarily reproduce asexually by the process of budding. In budding, a small part of the yeast cell grows out from the parent cell and eventually detaches, becoming a new independent cell. This method is efficient for rapid population growth in suitable environments, allowing yeast to exploit available nutrients and conditions effectively. Budding is a distinct characteristic of yeast, especially in the Saccharomyces species commonly used in brewing and baking.

In this context, sexual reproduction does occur in yeast, but it is less common and typically takes place under specific conditions, such as nutrient scarcity, rather than being their primary method of reproduction. Binary fission, while a form of asexual reproduction seen in some microorganisms like bacteria, does not occur in yeast. Division as a term might refer to asexual processes, but in the context of yeast, budding specifically describes the process accurately and is recognized as the primary reproductive method.