Which scientist developed a yeast test for the presence of sugar in the urine of diabetic patients?

• A. Louis Pasteur
• B. J.W. Trichy
• C. Mathew Dobson
• D. Francis Home

Answer: (D)

The test relies on yeast’s ability to ferment sugars. If urine from a diabetic patient contains sugar, adding yeast and providing warmth lets fermentation occur, producing observable signs such as gas or bubbles. This simple, inexpensive approach was popularized by Francis Home, who used the yeast reaction as a practical way to detect glycosuria in diabetic patients. While Louis Pasteur advanced the science of fermentation, the specific diagnostic use of a yeast test for urine sugar is attributed to Home. The other figures are associated with related work in fermentation or diabetes history, but not with this particular test.