The Diatom Glasshouse

Diatoms are unicellular microalgae with intricate walls made from silica. In his Perspective, [Wetherbee][1] explains how these patterned walls are constructed. He highlights the report by [KrA¶ger][2] et al ., who show that key molecules in the silicification process, called silaffins, are highly phosphorylated in their native state. The silaffins nucleate and precipitate silica; other molecules must be responsible for the fine patterning but remain as yet unidentified. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/298/5593/547 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/298/5593/584