Diatoms are marine organisms with an ornate silica shell. This silica from ancient deposits of dead diatoms is useful in everyday life in products such as diatomaceous earth and toothpaste.
Diatoms are traditionally divided into two broad catagories: centric diatoms (Centrales), which are radially symmetric, and pennate diatoms (Pennales), which are bilaterally symmetric. With this kit students can identify diatoms various shapes, including both symmetries.
Each kit contains 6 tubes of algae; enough to prepare about 50 slides.