Yeast Cells Seen In Microscope (IMAGE) Chalmers University of Technology Caption Yeast is a good model system for studying ageing. The researchers can easily determine the age of the cells by counting the bud scars, formed when they divide and form new cells by budding (left). As the yeast cells age, you can examine, for example, how proteins are damaged and aggregate (light spots in the image to the right), a process that in higher organisms can be linked to the degeneration of nerve or brain cells in, for example, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Credit Mikael Molin/Chalmers University of Technology Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.