There is a need for new approaches to isolate thermotolerant yeast strains that can be utilized for the efficient production of ethanol. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of starch or lignocellulosic will greatly benefit from thermotolerant yeast strains that actively ferment ethanol at temperatures above 40C. The development of new procedures targeting the cell membrane to increase thermotolerance in yeast strains represents an opportunity to advance the ethanol industry.