Sequencing the yeast genome: the European effort

For ethical, practical and economic reasons, scientists have traditionally relied on model organisms for biological research. Although model organisms do not always quite constitute the 'real thing', the significant advantages of their use contribute to making their study a viable alternative. The decision to use a specific model, particularly in large-scale studies such as genome projects, will be governed not only by biological consideration, but also by the prevailing financial and organizational infrastructure and expertise of the research community.