ABSTRACT
The Blastomycetes and Endomycetes contain a large number of medically important yeast species, most notably species within the genus Candida, which is referred to as a form genus because the genus itself is a repository for yeast species having certain characteristics and lacking sexual reproduction. The lack of sexuality limits taxonomists in their phylogenetic attempts to relate the various species when using traditional identification criteria. Molecular methods, however, have provided a new and exciting means to establish the phylogenetic relationships of not only the blastomycetous yeasts but also the endomycetous yeasts. In this chapter, we attempt to review the results of traditional and molecular studies of yeast taxonomy and relate those results to the clinical mycology laboratory. It is evident that yeast taxonomy will continue to evolve as more refined techniques are developed.
