Dielectrophoresis as a new method for preparative separation of cells is being present5d. This method responds to differences in the polarization of cells, which correlate with a number of complex physiological properties of cells. It is shown t h a t yeast cells of different thermotolerant properties can be differentiated by dielectrophoresis. Moreover, the application of this method permitted to separate cells with a high selectivity, which produce more biomass a t a temperature of 40 "C than the initial population.Investigations on the ability of cells to survive in an inhomogeneous a. c. field have shown that the number of dead cells a t frequencies of lo5 cps and 106 cps and a t field strengths (on the surface of the central electrode) below 2.4 x lo5 V/m is small. This fact should be considered when picking out suitable separation conditions.