Diatoms for Future

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Diatoms for Future

• Stan Freedman

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Diatom Info

• Common Phytoplankton
• Silica shells called frustules
• Generally have two asymmetrical sides with a
  split in between them
• Used for monitoring environmental conditions and
  studying water quality

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Thalassiarsira Pseudonana
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Thalassiosira Pseudonana

• Genome discovery
• Breakthrough in computer chip technology
• Diatoms produce silica shells
• Silica is related to silicon, used in
  semiconductors
• If we can genetically control that process, we
  would have a whole new way of performing the
  nanofabrication used to make computer chips.
  Michael Sussman (UW- Madisons Biotechnology
  Center)

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Why Diatoms?

• Computer chip speed
• Size Thalassiosira Pseudonana is 3 to 4 microns

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Other reasons why diatoms are so cool

• Environmentally friendly
• They lower the amount of carbon dioxide released
  into the atmosphere
• They are responsible for 40 percent of the
  organic carbon produced in the worlds oceans
  each year. Thomas Mock (University of
  Washington)

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Sources

• http//blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p813
• http//www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/uow
  -ids011808.php
• http//www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/uow
  -ems012308.php