Final answer:
The statement is false; yeast reproduces asexually through budding, not binary fission, which is typical of prokaryotic organisms like bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that yeast divides through binary fission is false. Yeast, which are eukaryotes, typically reproduce asexually through a process known as budding. During budding, a new cell grows directly from the body of the parent cell. In contrast, binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction commonly found in prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria. Binary fission involves the duplication of the organism's DNA followed by the division of the cell into two separate cells.
It's important to distinguish between these two types of asexual reproduction. In the case of yeast, particularly brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), the process of reproduction begins with the nucleus duplicating its chromosomes and the parent cell forming a bud. This bud enlarges, and the nucleus divides with one set of chromosomes going into the bud. Eventually, the bud separates from the parent cell, forming a new individual. Yeasts also have the ability to reproduce sexually under certain conditions, which involves the fusion of haploid cells to form a diploid cell that can undergo meiosis, leading to genetic diversity.