They are typically apiculate (lemon-shaped) in shape and often found in grape musts pre-fermentation.

The genus name Hanseniaspora honours Emil Christian Hansen (1842–1909), who was a Danish mycologist and fermentation physiologist.

[6] The genus is notable for its loss of many highly conserved genes responsible for cell cycle regulation and genome integrity, resulting in increased evolution rates and genome size reduction.

The FEL has more of such gene losses, resulting in more dramatic changes in the genome and inactivation of multiple metabolic pathways.

However, it has managed to diversity and thrive, showing that life can function without such regulation.