Abstract: Over four decades ago, the first oscillations in metabolism in yeast cells were reported. Since then, multiple forms of oscillatory behavior have been observed in yeast grown under a variety of continuous culturing environments. The remarkable synchrony of cells undergoing such oscillations has made them ideal subjects for investigation using systems-based approaches. Herein, we briefly summarize previous work on the characterization of such oscillations using systems approaches, and present the long-period, Yeast Metabolic Cycle as an excellent model system for deciphering the temporal organization of fundamental cellular and metabolic processes at unprecedented resolution.CI - Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.