Diatom (1)

Definition: Food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is a fine powder made from diatoms, fossilized phytoplankton. It resembles Rice Chex under a microscope, but is cylindrical in form.

Deodorizing: Effective in deodorizing garbage cans and fridges.
Dental Care: Used in toothpaste and as a mild abrasive.
Beauty: Applicable in facial scrubs and masks, supports collagen production.
Dietary Supplement: Nourishes hair and strengthens nails.
Health Support: May support healthy cholesterol levels and strengthen bones & teeth.
Food Storage: Helps in preserving food quality.
Pest Control: Effective against bed bugs, fleas, and other garden pests.
Cleaning Agent: Works as a stain remover, scouring agent, and for spill clean-up.
Detoxification: Utilized as a detoxification powder.

Identity: Belong to the class Bacillariophyceae, with over 200 genera and around 16,000 species, known as 'The Jewels of the Plant Kingdom'.
Habitat: Found in freshwater and marine environments.
Structure:
- Frustule: Siliceous shell made up of upper (epitheca) and lower (hypotheca) halves.
- Girdle Formation: Created when the edges of the epitheca and hypotheca overlap.
- Viewing Angles: Observed from valve view (one valve visible) and girdle view (side view).

Features: Radial symmetry, discoid chloroplasts, coarse markings, and are usually found in the sea.
Movement: Non-motile structure, exhibit specific cellular organization.

Features: Boat-shaped, bilateral symmetry, elongated chloroplasts, usually found in freshwater.
Movement: Show gliding movements and possess raphe, allowing movement along their longitudinal axis.

Cell Division: Plane of division is perpendicular to the cell's main axis; results in one larger cell (epitheca) and one smaller (hypotheca).
Karyokinesis: Involves mitotic nuclear division before cytokinesis occurs.

Isogamous vs. Oogamous: Pennales exhibit isogamy; Centrales typically show oogamy.
Auxospore Formation: Result of sexual reproduction; crucial for restoring cell size.
Types:
- By Syngamy: Combines gametes from two cells.
- By Parthenogenesis: Involves meiotic division within a single cell.
- By Autogamy: Fuses two haploid nuclei in one cell after meiosis.

Process: The auxospore enlarges, restores the cell size, and undergoes mitotic division to form the daughter diatom.

Diatoms are essential components of both ecosystem health and various commercial applications. Their unique structure, reproductive methods, and potential uses in pest control and health supplementation highlight their importance.