Some questions regarding diatoms - (Jul/03/2008 )

Hi there, I have 2 questions regarding diatoms:

why are diatoms classified as stramenopila?

and.....

I need one biological and one commercial reason why diatoms are important?


Someone kindly explain

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Go ask the homework forum!!! Also, what are your ideas about each question?????

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Agree. Diatoms are not micro-organisms but protists.
Anyway google/wiki for "diatomaceous earth"

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Check these lectures, will anyway get some insights, never hurts:
http://search.vadlo.com/b/q?sn=158621799&a...tance&rel=2
http://search.vadlo.com/b/q?sn=158621799&a...opila&rel=2
..

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Thought we have outdated the kingdom "protista"??? Protista was historically used for very diverse of organisms and which had one thing in common: they are microscopic. But newer phylogenetic analyses based on DNA gave evidence that these organisms are as closly related as humans and plants....

look at eg.(bob1 you can find the answer for your first question there): Eukaryotic tree of life may 2008

or Baldauf Science 2003

But protista or not protista, they are really really beautiful!!!! You find some beautiful drawings of Ernst Haeckel here. Not only protists though....

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