Thalassiosira Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Fossil species of Thalassiosira | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
Clade: | SAR |
Clade: | Stramenopiles |
Phylum: | Gyrista |
Subphylum: | Ochrophytina |
Class: | Bacillariophyceae |
Order: | Thalassiosirales |
Family: | Thalassiosiraceae |
Genus: | Thalassiosira P.T. Cleve, 1873 emend. Hasle, 1973 |
Species | |
See text |
Thalassiosira is a genus of centric diatoms, comprising over 100 marine and freshwater species. It is a diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotes that make up a vital part of marine and freshwater ecosystems, in which they are key primary producers and essential for carbon cycling [1]
Thalassiosira is a diverse genus, however one species within the genus, T. pseudonana, has gained particular significance as the first marine phytoplankton to have its genome sequenced. T. pseudonana has since become a key model organism for studying diatom physiology. The T. pseudonana genome revealed novel genes for intracellular trafficking and metabolism in diatoms.[2] This species was again used to develop methods for genetic manipulation of diatoms [3] and for the study of silica biomineralization.[4]