Yeast has several important uses: 1. Baking: Yeast helps leaven bread by producing carbon dioxide through fermentation, making it rise. 2. Alcoholic Beverages: Yeast is used in the production of wine, beer, and spirits to ferment the sugars and create alcohol. 3. Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Yeast is used in the production of soft drinks and root beers, adding flavor without causing fermentation to produce alcohol. 4. Scientific Research: Due to its cellular makeup, yeast is used in scientific studies to understand human genetics and as a model organism in cell biology. 5. Biofuels: Yeast converts sugar into ethanol, which can be used as a diesel substitute in vehicles. 6. Nutritional Supplements: Yeast, especially nutritional yeast, provides protein and vitamins, particularly the B-complex vitamins, and is used as a supplement for vegetarians and the health-conscious. 7. Bioremediation: Some yeast species can degrade contaminants and are used in environmental cleanup processes.