Saccharomyces, from the Latin, literally means "sugar fungus," and is the scientific name for the yeasts used in fermentation, specifically baker’s yeast. It is the simplest single-cell organism that operates in a manner similar to human cells and is, therefore, an important organism used in genetic and molecular biology research. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome has been sequenced. There are many versions of this fungus fermented with various compounds. Cosmetic ingredient manufacturers extol this yeast as having significant properties for skin, but there is little independent research supporting its use on skin. However, some extracts of yeast, such as beta-glucan (a potent antioxidant) are derived from yeast (Sources: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, August 15, 1989, pages 6018–6022; and http://www.in-cosmetics.com/ExhibitorLibrary/3/BiodynesO3.pdf).