Diatoms
Marine diatoms
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Chromalveolata Phylum: Heterokontophyta Class: Bacillariophyceae
Orders
Centrales Pennales

Diatoms (Greek: διά (dia) = "through" + τέμνειν (temnein) = "to cut", i. Animals Plants fungi, and Protists are eukaryotes (juːˈkærɪɒt or -oʊt Organisms whose cells are organized into complex Chromalveolata is a Eukaryote supergroup first proposed by Thomas Cavalier-Smith as a refinement of his kingdom Chromista, which was first The heterokonts or stramenopiles are a major line of Eukaryotes presently containing about 10500 known species This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Order Centrales is a traditional Paraphyletic subdivision of the Heterokont Algae known as Diatoms ref name=hoek95>Hoek C Order Pennales is a traditional subdivision of the Heterokont Algae known as Diatoms ref name=hoek95>Hoek C Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly e. , "cut in half") are a major group of eukaryotic algae, and are one of the most common types of phytoplankton. Animals Plants fungi, and Protists are eukaryotes (juːˈkærɪɒt or -oʊt Organisms whose cells are organized into complex Algae ( sing. alga are a large and diverse group of simple typically Autotrophic organisms ranging from Unicellular to Multicellular forms Phytoplankton are the Autotrophic component of the Plankton community Most diatoms are unicellular, although they can exist as colonies in the shape of filaments or ribbons (e. A microorganism (also spelled micro organism or micro-organism and also called a microbe) is an Organism that is Microscopic (usually In Biology, a colony (from Latin colonia) refers to several individual Organisms of the same Species living closely together usually g. Fragillaria), fans (Meridion), zigzags (Tabellaria), or stellate colonies (Asterionella). Tabellaria is a genus of Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae They are cuboid in shape and the frustules ( siliceous cell walls are attached at the corners so Asterionella is a genera of Freshwater Diatoms found worldwide A characteristic feature of diatom cells is that they are encased within a unique cell wall made of silica (hydrated silicon dioxide) called a frustule. The Chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica or silox (from the Latin " Silex " is an Oxide A frustule is the hard and porous cell wall or external layer belonging to Diatoms The frustule is composed almost purely of Silica, made from Silicic acid These frustules show a wide diversity in form, some quite beautiful and ornate, but usually consist of two asymmetrical sides with a split between them, hence the group name. Fossil evidence suggests that they originated during, or before, the early Jurassic Period. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Ma (million years ago to  Ma that is from the end of the Triassic to the beginning Diatom communities are a popular tool for monitoring environmental conditions, past and present, and are commonly used in studies of water quality.

General biology

There are more than 200 genera of living diatoms, and it is estimated that there are approximately 100,000 extant species^[1][2]. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Extant is a term commonly used to refer to Taxa (such as Species, genera or families) that are still in existence (living In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. Diatoms are a widespread group and can be found in the oceans, in freshwater, in soils and on damp surfaces. An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. Freshwater is a word that refers to bodies of water such as Ponds lakes rivers and streams containing low concentrations of dissolved Salts and other Total dissolved Soil, often typeset as SOiL, is a four piece rock band from Chicago Illinois United States founded by Shaun Glass Tom Schofield Tim King and Adam Zadel Most live pelagically in open water, although some live as surface films at the water-sediment interface (benthic), or even under damp atmospheric conditions. Any water in the sea that is not close to the bottom is in the pelagic zone. Benthos are the organisms which live on in or near the Seabed, also known as the Benthic zone. They are especially important in oceans, where they are estimated to contribute up to 45% of the total oceanic primary production^[3]. See also Primary production (economics Primary production is the production of Organic compounds from atmospheric or aquatic Carbon dioxide, Although usually microscopic, some species of diatoms can reach up to 2 millimetres in length. A microscope ( Greek: ( micron) = small + ( skopein) = to look or see is an instrument for viewing objects that are The Millimetre ( American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to

Diatoms belong to a large group called the heterokonts, including both autotrophs (e. The heterokonts or stramenopiles are a major line of Eukaryotes presently containing about 10500 known species An autotroph (from the Greek autos = self and trophe = nutrition is an Organism that produces complex Organic compounds from simple g. golden algae, kelp) and heterotrophs (e. The golden algae or chrysophytes are a large group of Heterokont Algae found mostly in freshwater Kelp are large Seaweeds ( Algae) belonging to the Brown algae and classified in the order Laminariales A heterotrophs, or chemoorganotrophy ( Greek heterone = (another and trophe = nutrition is an Organism that requires g. water moulds). Oomycetes also known as Water molds (or water moulds: see spelling differences) are a group of filamentous unicellular Heterokonts physically Their yellowish-brown chloroplasts are typical of heterokonts, with four membranes and containing pigments such as fucoxanthin. Chloroplasts are Organelles found in Plant cells and eukaryotic Algae that conduct Photosynthesis. The cell membrane (also called the plasma membrane, plasmalemma, or "phospholipid bilayer" is a Selectively permeable Lipid bilayer In Biology, a pigment or biochrome is any material resulting in Color of plant or animal cells which Fucoxanthin is a Carotenoid, with formula C42H58O6 It is found as an accessory Pigment in the Chloroplasts of Individuals usually lack flagella, but they are present in gametes and have the usual heterokont structure, except they lack the hairs (mastigonemes) characteristic in other groups. A flagellum ( plural flagella) is a tail-like structure that projects from the Cell body of certain Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells and it A gamete (from Ancient Greek γαμέτης; translated gamete = wife gametes = husband is a cell that fuses with another gamete Most diatoms are non-motile, although some move via flagellation. As their relatively dense cell walls cause them to readily sink, planktonic forms in open water usually rely on turbulent mixing of the upper layers by the wind to keep them suspended in sunlit surface waters. In Fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a fluid regime characterized by chaotic Stochastic property changes Wind is the flow of Air or other Gases that compose an Atmosphere (including but not limited to the Earth's) Some species actively regulate their buoyancy with intracellular lipids to counter sinking. Lipids are broadly defined as any fat- Soluble ( lipophilic) naturally-occurring Molecule, such as fats oils waxes cholesterol sterols fat-soluble

Diatoms cells are contained within a unique silicate (silicic acid) cell wall comprising two separate valves (or shells). Silicic acid is a general name for a family of chemical compounds of the element Silicon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen, with the general formula n A cell wall is a tough flexible and sometimes fairly rigid layer surrounding a cell, located external to the Cell membrane, which provides the cell with structural The biogenic silica that the cell wall is composed of is synthesised intracellularly by the polymerisation of silicic acid monomers. Not to be confused with Intercellular, meaning "between cells" In Polymer chemistry, polymerization is a process of reacting Monomer Molecules together in a Chemical reaction to form three-dimensional networks A monomer (from Greek mono "one" and meros "part" is a small Molecule that may become chemically bonded to other This material is then extruded to the cell exterior and added to the wall. Diatom cell walls are also called frustules or tests, and their two valves typically overlap one other like the two halves of a petri dish. A frustule is the hard and porous cell wall or external layer belonging to Diatoms The frustule is composed almost purely of Silica, made from Silicic acid A Petri dish is a shallow Glass or Plastic Cylindrical lidded dish that biologists use to culture cells It was named after In most species, when a diatom divides to produce two daughter cells, each cell keeps one of the two valves and grows a smaller valve within it. As a result, after each division cycle the average size of diatom cells in the population gets smaller. Once such cells reach a certain minimum size, rather than simply divide vegetatively, they reverse this decline by forming an auxospore. Vegetative reproduction is a type of Asexual reproduction found in plants and is also called vegetative propagation or vegetative multiplication. In certain species of Diatoms auxospores are specialised cells that are produced at key stages in their Cell cycle or life history. This expands in size to give rise to a much larger cell, which then returns to size-diminishing divisions. Auxospore production is almost always linked to meiosis and sexual reproduction. In Biology or life science meiosis (pronounced my-oh-sis is a process of reductional division in which the number of chromosomes per cell is cut in half

Decomposition and decay of diatoms leads to organic and inorganic (in the form of silicates) sediment, the inorganic component of which can lead to a method of analyzing past marine environments by corings of ocean floors or bay muds, since the inorganic matter is embedded in deposition of clays and silts and forms a permanent geological record of such marine strata. Organic matter (or organic material) is Matter that has come from a once-living Organism; is capable of Traditionally inorganic compounds are considered to be of mineral not biological origin For the Artificial intelligence Androids of the 1990s Science fiction series Space Above and Beyond, see Silicate (AI Bay mud consists of thick deposits of soft unconsolidated Silty Clay, which is saturated with Water; these soil layers are situated at the bottom of Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained Minerals which show plasticity through a variable range of Water content, and Silt is Soil or rock derived Granular material of a Grain size between sand and clay Geology (from Greek γη gê, "earth" and λόγος Logos, "speech" lit

Classification

Selections from Ernst Haeckel's 1904 Kunstformen der Natur (Artforms of Nature), showing pennate (left) and centric (right) frustules. Ernst Heinrich Philipp August Haeckel ( February 16, 1834 — August 9, 1919)also written von Haeckel, was an eminent German

The classification of heterokonts is still unsettled, and they may be treated as a division (or phylum), kingdom, or something in-between. A phylum ( Plural: phyla) is a Taxonomic rank between Kingdom and above Class. In biological Taxonomy, a kingdom or regnum is a Taxonomic rank in either (historically the highest rank or (in the new three-domain system Accordingly, groups like the diatoms may be ranked anywhere from class (usually called Bacillariophyceae) to division (usually called Bacillariophyta), with corresponding changes in the ranks of their subgroups. The diatoms are also sometimes referred to as Class Diatomophyceae.

Diatoms are traditionally divided into two orders: centric diatoms (Centrales), which are radially symmetric, and pennate diatoms (Pennales), which are bilaterally symmetric. This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Order Centrales is a traditional Paraphyletic subdivision of the Heterokont Algae known as Diatoms ref name=hoek95>Hoek C Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically-pleasing proportionality and balance such that it reflects beauty or Order Pennales is a traditional subdivision of the Heterokont Algae known as Diatoms ref name=hoek95>Hoek C The former are paraphyletic to the latter. In Phylogenetics, a group of organisms is said to be paraphyletic if the group contains its most recent common ancestor but does not contain all A more recent classification^[1] divides the diatoms into three classes: centric diatoms (Coscinodiscophyceae), pennate diatoms without a raphe (Fragilariophyceae), and pennate diatoms with a raphe (Bacillariophyceae). Order Centrales is a traditional Paraphyletic subdivision of the Heterokont Algae known as Diatoms ref name=hoek95>Hoek C A raphe has different uses In science Pronounced "RAY-fee") it is most commonly used when describing Diatoms, Seeds, and Animal Order Pennales is a traditional subdivision of the Heterokont Algae known as Diatoms ref name=hoek95>Hoek C Diatoms ( Greek: (dia = "through" + (temnein = "to cut" i It is probable there will be further revisions as understanding of their relationships increases.

Round & Crawford (1990)^[1] and Hoek et al. (1995)^[4] provide more comprehensive coverage of diatom taxonomy.

Ecology

A budget of the ocean's silicon cycle^[5]

Planktonic forms in freshwater and marine environments typically exhibit a "boom and bust" (or "bloom and bust") lifestyle. Plankton consist of any drifting Organisms ( Animals Plants Archaea, or Bacteria) that inhabit the Pelagic zone of In Economics, the term boom and bust refers to the movement of an economy through Economic cycles. When conditions in the upper mixed layer (nutrients and light) are favourable (e. g. at the start of spring) their competitive edge^[6] allows them to quickly dominate phytoplankton communities ("boom" or "bloom"). As such they are often classed as opportunistic r-strategists (i. In Ecology, r/K selection theory relates to the selection of traits which promote success in particular environments e. those organisms whose ecology is defined by a high growth rate, r).

When conditions turn unfavourable, usually upon depletion of nutrients, diatom cells typically increase in sinking rate and exit the upper mixed layer ("bust"). This sinking is induced by either a loss of buoyancy control, the synthesis of mucilage that sticks diatoms cells together, or the production of heavy resting spores. Mucilage is a gooey polar Glycoprotein; an exopolysaccharide; a Polymer produced by most plants and some microorganisms Sinking out of the upper mixed layer removes diatoms from conditions inimical to growth, including grazer populations and higher temperatures (which would otherwise increase cell metabolism). Metabolism is the set of Chemical reactions that occur in living Organisms in order to maintain Life. Cells reaching deeper water or the shallow seafloor can then rest until conditions become more favourable again. In the open ocean, many sinking cells are lost to the deep, but refuge populations can persist near the thermocline. The thermocline (sometimes metalimnion) is a thin but distinct layer in a large body of water such as an ocean or lake in which temperature changes more rapidly with depth

Ultimately, diatom cells in these resting populations re-enter the upper mixed layer when vertical mixing entrains them. In most circumstances, this mixing also replenishes nutrients in the upper mixed layer, setting the scene for the next round of diatom blooms. In the open ocean (away from areas of continuous upwelling^[7]), this cycle of bloom, bust, then return to pre-bloom conditions typically occurs over an annual cycle, with diatoms only being prevalent during the spring and early summer. Upwelling is an oceanographic phenomenon that involves wind-driven motion of dense cooler and usually nutrient-rich water towards the ocean surface replacing the warmer In some locations, however, an autumn bloom may occur, caused by the breakdown of summer stratification and the entrainment of nutrients while light levels are still sufficient for growth. Since vertical mixing is increasing, and light levels are falling as winter approaches, these blooms are smaller and shorter-lived than their spring equivalents.

In the open ocean, the condition that typically causes diatom (spring) blooms to end is a lack of silicon. Unlike other nutrients, this is only a major requirement of diatoms so it is not regenerated in the plankton ecosystem as efficiently as, for instance, nitrogen or phosphorus nutrients. Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14 Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 This can be seen in maps of surface nutrient concentrations - as nutrients decline along gradients, silicon is usually the first to be exhausted (followed normally by nitrogen then phosphorus).

Because of this bloom-and-bust lifestyle, diatoms are believed to play a disproportionately important role in the export of carbon from oceanic surface waters^[8][7] (see also the biological pump). In Oceanic Biogeochemistry, the biological pump is the sum of a suite of biologically-mediated processes that transport Carbon from the surface Significantly, they also play a key role in the regulation of the biogeochemical cycle of silicon in the modern ocean^[5][9]. Silicon (ˈsɪlɪkən or /ˈsɪlɪkɒn/ silicium is the Chemical element that has the symbol Si and Atomic number 14

Egge & Aksnes (1992)^[10] figure.

The use of silicon by diatoms is believed by many researchers to be the key to their ecological success. In a now classic study, Egge & Aksnes (1992)^[10] found that diatom dominance of mesocosm communities was directly related to the availability of silicate. When silicon content approaches a concentration of 2 mmol m^-3, diatoms typically represent more than 70% of the phytoplankton community. "Milli" redirects here for the village in Azerbaijan see Birinci Milli; for similar-sounding words see Millie. The mole (symbol mol) is a unit of Amount of substance: it is an SI base unit, and almost the only unit to be used to measure this The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Raven (1983)^[11] noted that, relative to organic cell walls, silica frustules require less energy to synthesize (approximately 8% of a comparable organic wall), potentially a significant saving on the overall cell energy budget. Other researchers^[12] have suggested that the biogenic silica in diatom cell walls acts as an effective pH buffering agent, facilitating the conversion of bicarbonate to dissolved CO₂ (which is more readily assimilated). pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a Solution. For an aqueous solution composed of both a weak acid or base and its conjugate see Buffer solution. In Inorganic chemistry, bicarbonate ( IUPAC -recommended nomenclature hydrogencarbonate) is an intermediate form in the Deprotonation Notwithstanding the possible advantages conferred by silicon, diatoms typically have higher growth rates than other algae of a corresponding size^[6].

Diatoms occur in virtually every environment that contains water. This includes not only oceans, seas, lakes and streams, but also soil.

Evolutionary history

Heterokont chloroplasts appear to be derived from those of red algae, rather than directly from prokaryotes as occurred in plants. The red algae (Rhodophyta ˌroʊdəˈfaɪtə roʊˈdɒfɨtə from Greek: ῥόδον (rhodon = rose + φυτόν (phyton = plant thus red plant are The prokaryotes (proʊˈkærioʊts singular prokaryote /proʊˈkæriət/ are a group of Organisms that lack a Cell nucleus (= karyon or any other Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. This suggests they had a more recent origin than many other algae. However, fossil evidence is scant, and it is really only with the evolution of the diatoms themselves that the heterokonts make a serious impression on the fossil record.

The earliest known fossil diatoms date from the early Jurassic (~185 Ma)^[13], although recent molecular clock^[13] and sedimentary^[14] evidence suggests an earlier origin. Annum is one form of the Latin noun meaning Year, not a form normally used for derivatives in modern languages the accusative singular The molecular clock (based on the molecular clock hypothesis ( MCH) is a technique in Molecular evolution to relate the divergence time of two Species Sedimentary rock is one of the three main rock types (the others being igneous and Metamorphic rock) It has been suggested that their origin may be related to the end-Permian mass extinction (~250 Ma), after which many marine niches were opened^[15]. The Permian is a geologic period and system that extends from 299 An extinction event (also known as mass extinction; extinction-level event, ELE is a sharp decrease in the number of Species in a relatively short period In Ecology, a niche (pronounced nich nēsh or nish A shorthand definition of niche is how an organism makes a living The gap between this event and the time that fossil diatoms first appear may indicate a period when diatoms were unsilicified and their evolution was cryptic^[16]. In Ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation Since the advent of silicification, diatoms have made a significant impression on the fossil record, with major deposits of fossil diatoms found as far back as the early Cretaceous, and some rocks (diatomaceous earth, diatomite, kieselguhr) being composed almost entirely of them. The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of Diatomaceous earth (ˌdaɪətəˈmeɪʃəs ˈɝθ also known as DE, TSS, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur and

Although the diatoms may have existed since the Triassic, the timing of their ascendancy and "take-over" of the silicon cycle is more recent. The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 251 to 199 Ma (million years ago Prior to the Phanerozoic (before 544 Ma), it is believed that microbial or inorganic processes weakly regulated the ocean's silicon cycle^[17][18][19]. The Phanerozoic (occasionally Phanaerozoic) Eon is the current eon in the Geologic timescale, and the one during which abundant animal life has existed The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have Traditionally inorganic compounds are considered to be of mineral not biological origin Subsequently, the cycle appears dominated (and more strongly regulated) by the radiolarians and siliceous sponges, the former as zooplankton, the latter as sedentary filter feeders primarily on the continental shelves^[20]. Radiolarians (also radiolaria) are Amoeboid Protozoa that produce intricate Mineral Skeletons typically with a central capsule The sponges or poriferans (from Latin porus "pore" and ferre "to bear" are Animals Zooplankton are the Heterotrophic (sometimes detritivorous) type of Plankton. Sedentary lifestyle is a medical Neologism used to denote a type of Lifestyle most commonly found in modern (particularly Western) cultures Filter feeders (also known as suspension feeders) are Animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water typically by passing the water The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each Continent and associated Coastal plain, which is covered during interglacial periods such Within the last 100 My, it is thought that the silicon cycle has come under even tighter control, and that this derives from the ecological ascendancy of the diatoms.

However, the precise timing of the "take-over" is unclear, and different authors have conflicting interpretations of the fossil record. Some evidence, such as the eviction of siliceous sponges from the shelves^[21], suggests that this takeover began in the Cretaceous (146 Ma to 65 Ma), while evidence from radiolarians suggests "take-over" did not begin until the Cenozoic (65 Ma to present)^[22]. Eviction is the removal of a Tenant from rental property by the Landlord. The Cenozoic (also Caenozoic or Cainozoic) Era (ˌsiːnəˈzoʊɪk/ /ˌsɛn- (meaning "new life" ( Greek ( kainos) "new" Nevertheless, regardless of the details of the "take-over" timing, it is clear that this most recent revolution has installed much tighter biological control over the biogeochemical cycle of silicon. A revolution (from the Latin revolutio, "a turnaround" is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively In Ecology and Earth science, a biogeochemical cycle is a circuit or pathway by which a Chemical element or Molecule moves through both biotic

Collection

Living diatoms are often found clinging in great numbers to filamentous algae, or forming gelatinous masses on various submerged plants. Cladophora is frequently covered with Cocconeis, an elliptically shaped diatom; Vaucheria is often covered with small forms. Cladophora is a genus of Filamentous Algae Ulvophyceae (green algae Diatoms are frequently present as a brown, slippery coating on submerged stones and sticks, and may be seen to "stream" with river current.

The surface mud of a pond, ditch, or lagoon will almost always yield some diatoms. They can be made to emerge by filling a jar with water and mud, wrapping it in black paper and letting direct sunlight fall on the surface of the water. Within a day, the diatoms will come to the top in a scum and can be isolated.

Since diatoms form an important part of the food of molluscs, tunicates, and fishes, the alimentary tracts of these animals often yield forms that are not easily secured in other ways. Molluscs are animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca. There are around 250000 extant Species within the phylum with an estimated 70000 Tunicate, also known as urochordata, tunicata (and by the common names of urochordates, sea squirts, and sea pork) is the Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Marine diatoms can be collected by direct water sampling, though benthic forms can be secured by scraping barnacles, oyster shells, and other shells. A barnacle is a type of Arthropod belonging to infraclass Cirripedia in the subphylum Crustacea, and is hence distantly related to The common name oyster is used for a number of different groups of Bivalve Mollusks most of which live in marine habitats or Brackish water.

The silicious shells of diatoms are among the most beautiful objects which can be examined with the microscope. A microscope ( Greek: ( micron) = small + ( skopein) = to look or see is an instrument for viewing objects that are To obtain perfectly clean mounts requires considerable time and patience, but once the material is cleaned, preparations may be made at any time with very little trouble.

This section uses text from Methods in Plant Histology^[23].

Genome sequencing

The entire genome of the centric diatom, Thalassiosira pseudonana, has been sequenced^[24], and the sequencing of a second diatom genome from the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum is in progress. In classical genetics the genome of a Diploid Organism including Eukarya refers to a full set of chromosomes or genes in a Gamete, thereby Thalassiosira pseudonana is a species of marine centric Diatom. The term DNA sequencing encompasses biochemical methods for determining the order of the Nucleotide bases Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a Diatom. It is the only species in the genus Phaeodactylum The first insights into the genome properties of the P. tricornutum gene repertoire was described using 1,000 ESTs^[25]. An expressed sequence tag or EST is a short sub-sequence of a transcribed spliced nucleotide sequence (either Protein -coding or not Subsequently, the number of ESTs was extended to 12,000 and the Diatom EST Database was constructed for functional analyses^[26]. These sequences have been used to make a comparative analysis between P. tricornutum and the putative complete proteomes from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae, and the centric diatom T. The green algae (singular green alga) are the large group of Algae from which the Embryophytes (higher plants emerged Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a motile single celled Green alga about 10 Micrometres in diameter that swims with two Flagella. The red algae (Rhodophyta ˌroʊdəˈfaɪtə roʊˈdɒfɨtə from Greek: ῥόδον (rhodon = rose + φυτόν (phyton = plant thus red plant are pseudonana^[27].

Nanotechnology research

The self-replicating properties of diatoms prove to be a great resource for nanotechnologists who desire to reproduce these properties. Nanotechnology, sometimes shortened to nanotech, refers to a field of Applied science whose theme is the control of matter on an Atomic and Molecular Using genome mapping, biologists and nanotechnologists can isolate the proteins which assist in the deposition of silica during division. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl With knowledge of the self-replicating properties, nanotechnologists can mimic this construction for various nanoscale 'widgets', optical systems, and materials for the semiconductor industry. A widget is a Placeholder name for an object or more specifically a mechanical or other manufactured device A semiconductor' is a Solid material that has Electrical conductivity in between a conductor and an insulator; it can vary over that It may also be possible to use diatom shells as vehicles for drug delivery. The development of a compustat can select certain diatom species by their properties and match them with nanotechnologies that would be most useful. These small organisms can help biologists and nanotechnologists to work together to further research^[28].

References

See also

• Algae
• Biological pump
• Diatomaceous earth
• Phytoplankton
• Plankton

External links

• Computer simulations of pattern formation in diatoms

• Catalogue of Diatom Names, California Academy of Sciences
• Diatom Genome, Joint Genome Institute
• Diatom EST database, École Normale Supérieure
• Plankton*Net, taxonomic database including images of diatom species
• Life History and Ecology of Diatoms, University of California Museum of Paleontology
• Diatoms: 'Nature's Marbles', Eureka site, University of Bergen
• Diatom life history and ecology, Microfossil Image Recovery and Circulation for Learning and Education (MIRACLE), University College London
• Diatom page, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• Geometry and Pattern in Nature 3: The holes in radiolarian and diatom tests
• Art Deco Diatoms, Wim van Egmond