Diatoms, a group of microscopic eukaryotic algae, are vital components of aquatic ecosystems worldwide. These single-celled organisms belong to the class Bacillariophyceae within the kingdom Chromista. Diatoms’ most distinctive feature is their cell wall, which is composed of silica. This silica-based cell wall, known as a frustule, is composed of two halves, known as valves. The valves have an intricate pattern of pores, ridges, and other features that allow nutrients and gases to be exchanged with their surroundings. Reproduction is achieved by simply forming two new cells within the parent frustule, leading to a reduction in cell size with each division. Sexual reproduction triggers the formation of an enlarged cell, the auxospore that restores the full-size cells.