Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Generation of Marked and Markerless Mutants in Model Cyanobacterial Species
Published on: May 29, 2016
The genome of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana: ecology, evolution, and metabolism
E Virginia Armbrust1, John A Berges, Chris Bowler
1School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. armbrust@ocean.washington.edu
Abstract:
Diatoms are unicellular algae with plastids acquired by secondary endosymbiosis. They are responsible for approximately 20% of global carbon fixation. We report the 34 million-base pair draft nuclear genome of the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana and its 129 thousand-base pair plastid and 44 thousand-base pair mitochondrial genomes. Sequence and optical restriction mapping revealed 24 diploid nuclear chromosomes. We identified novel genes for silicic acid transport and formation of silica-based cell walls, high-affinity iron uptake, biosynthetic enzymes for several types of polyunsaturated fatty acids, use of a range of nitrogenous compounds, and a complete urea cycle, all attributes that allow diatoms to prosper in aquatic environments.
Related Concept Videos
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
Comparing Mitochondrial, Chloroplast, and Prokaryotic Genomes
Export of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genes
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
Evolution of Microbial Genome

