Molecular mechanisms are usually presented for explaining the lengths and shapes of yeast cells [31].
Here we have exploited the physical shape of fission yeast cells, namely that they are rod-shaped.
The rod shape of fission yeast is important for our arguments, but more than this specific shape, it is its broken symmetry which is essential for our reasoning.
Thus, polarized cell growth, which involves addition of new membrane at growth sites, generates the characteristic cylindrical shape of fission yeast (Harold, 1990; Minc et al., 2009).
Finally, the regular spherocylindrical shape of fission yeast cells, with a uniform radius and a well-defined length upon entry into mitosis, enables accurate estimates of the intracellular volume and thus concentration to be obtained.
In contrast to nearly perfect spherical polymer beads, the variability in shapes of pathogenic yeast poses challenges to generating optical traps sufficient for specific displacement of the particle.
How have evolutionary pressures shaped the growth capacity of yeast cells?
These elements shaped differently the genomes of yeast strains from wine and clinical environments.
The differential diagnosis is rarely difficult with cryptococcosis because of the shape and size of yeasts, presence of capsule, and lack of inflammation in the surrounding tissue.
