The lab where Protacio works uses agar to grow model organisms called fission yeast, whose chromosomes have striking similarities with ours. The bad agar derailed their experiments for two months.

Breweries do have procedures in place to prevent contamination, but diastatic yeasts are hard to identify as they look like any other yeast when put under a microscope.

The content of the red yeast rice supplement that manufacturers claim reduces cholesterol, ... Contamination common in red yeast rice products. By Reuters. July 9, 2008 7:33 PM UTC Updated July 10 ...

Diastatic yeasts can spoil craft beer through hyperattenuation, which boosts the alcohol content and causes bottles to explode. Killer toxins, which are produced by other yeast strains, hint at a ...