Figure 1.

The connection between ‘blue-sky’ yeast research and ‘ochre-earth’ practical applications. At the ‘blue-sky’ end of the spectrum, pure or basic research is inspired by curiosity and a quest for understanding the fundamental intricacies of a yeast cell's inner workings. Explorations into the fundamentals of cells and organisms are often supported and pushed by technological advances. At the ‘ochre-earth’ side of the spectrum, applied or goal-oriented research is usually pulled by market forces and the requirements of end users. Research inspired by both the quest for understanding the ‘fundamentals’ and the promise of future ‘use’ often provides the most powerful dynamo of technological and societal progress. This approach is particularly relevant to yeast research as Saccharomyces cerevisiae is both an ideal model organism in the laboratory and a workhorse for several fermentation-based industries.