Silicon and Siliceous Structures in Biological Systems

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XVI

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2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Introduction

      • T. L. Simpson, B. E. Volcani

      Pages 3-12

3. Physiological Aspects of Silicon

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-13

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   2. Silicon in the Cellular Metabolism of Diatoms

      • C. W. Sullivan, B. E. Volcani

      Pages 15-42

   3. Germanium-Silicon Interactions in Biological Systems

      • F. Azam, B. E. Volcani

      Pages 43-67

   4. Silicon in Bone Formation

      • E. M. Carlisle

      Pages 69-94

4. Siliceous Structures: Distribution, Deposition, Ultrastructure, Morphogenesis

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 95-95

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   2. Algal Groups

      1. Morphology and Phyletic Relationships of the Silicified Algae and the Archetypal Diatom — Monophyly or Polyphyly

         • F. E. Round

         Pages 97-128

      2. The Siliceous Components of the Diatom Cell Wall and Their Morphological Variation

         • R. M. Crawford

         Pages 129-156

      3. Cell Wall Formation in Diatoms: Morphogenesis and Biochemistry

         • B. E. Volcani

         Pages 157-200

      4. Ultrastructure and Deposition of Silica in the Chrysophyceae

         • C. B. McGrory, B. S. C. Leadbeater

         Pages 201-230

   3. Protozoa

      1. Distribution and Forms of Siliceous Structures Among Protozoa

         • E. C. Bovee

         Pages 233-279

      2. Ultrastructure and Deposition of Silica in Rhizopod Amebae

         • F. W. Harrison, D. Dunkelberger, N. Watabe, A. B. Stump

         Pages 281-294

      3. Ultrastructure and Deposition of Silica in Loricate Choanoflagellates

         • B. S. C. Leadbeater

         Pages 295-322

      4. Evolution and Diversity of Form in Radiolaria

         • W. R. Riedel, A. Sanfilippo

         Pages 323-346

      5. Radiolarian Fine Structure and Silica Deposition

         • O. R. Anderson

         Pages 347-379

   4. Higher Plants

      1. Ultrastructure of Silica Deposits in Higher Plants

         • A. G. Sangster, D. W. Parry

         Pages 383-407

      2. Silica in Shoots of Higher Plants

         • P. B. Kaufman, P. Dayanandan, Y. Takeoka, W. C. Bigelow, J. D. Jones, R. Iler

         Pages 409-449

   5. Sponges

      1. Form and Distribution of Silica in Sponges

         • W. D. Hartman

         Pages 453-493

The publication of this book was undertaken with two purposes in view: to bring together informatian on the deposition by living organ­ isms of unique skeletal structures composed of amorphous silica, and to review recent data on the involvement of silicon in physiological and biochemical processes. Although widely varying viewpoints are represented, all the contributors are very interested in the events in­ volved in the formatian of siliceaus structures and their function. Data presented deal with these questions in a variety of plant and animal systems, and at levels ranging from the evolutionary to the biochemical and ultrastructural. Innovations in electron microscopy and, indeed, the advent of electron microscopy itself, have stimulated many ultra­ structural studies of silica deposition, work which has deepened and widened the interest in those organisms which routinely produce "glassy skeletons. " The question of how silicon participates in biological systems in­ volves a spectrum of fields that indudes the chemistry of silicon per se, its biogeochemistry, biochemistry, ecology, and so forth. In this book, however, attention is focused up on the biological aspects of silicon and siliceous structures, with emphasis on the evolutian, phylogeny, morphology, and distribution of siliceaus structures, on the cellular as­ peets of silica deposition, and on the physiological and biochemical roles of silicon. This volume represents the first compilatian of such data. Because such a variety of subjects and fields are covered, the reader will have to glean for himself some of the comparative aspects of the data.

• Calcium
• Silicon
• biochemistry
• cell
• cell division
• chemistry
• cytology
• electron microscopy
• evolution
• influence
• membrane
• metabolism
• microscopy
• morphogenesis
• morphology

• Department of Biology, University of Hartford, West Hartford, USA

  Tracy L. Simpson

• Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, USA

  Benjamin E. Volcani

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