Diatoms are golden-brown unicellular members of the division Bacillariophyta that have tremendous ecological significance. Presently a large number of researchers around the globe have exploited diatoms because of their enriched nutritional quality and most importantly for their unique silica nano/microstructural properties. Diatoms have applications in a variety of disciplines, including marine biology, materials science, nanotechnology, optical and electronic engineering, etc. As a result of adaptations to the unique conditions diatoms inhabit to survive and the mode of cell wall synthesis at the ultrastructural level, diatom taxonomy is ever challenging. This chapter briefly elucidates the taxonomical as well as biotechnological providence of diatoms. |
