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Micro World

How small is a Thalassiosira diatom?

A Thalassiosira diatom is about 20 µm across.

What is measured: centric marine diatom, valve diameter

Thalassiosira Diatom (20 µm) drawn to scale beside a cloud droplet (20 µm) and a human hair (70 µm)
Drawn to scale, from left to right: Thalassiosira Diatom (20 µm), Cloud droplet (20 µm) and Human hair (70 µm).

Compare

How big is that, really?

  • About the same width as a cloud droplet
  • As wide as about 3 red blood cells side by side
  • About 3 would fit across a human hair
  • About 5 would fit across a human egg cell
  • About 10× the length of an E. coli bacterium

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Facts about Thalassiosira Diatom

Thalassiosira diatoms are key primary producers in ocean ecosystems and form intricate silica shells.

Source: Protist Information Server - Thalassiosira

Micro World

NameSizeCompared with Thalassiosira Diatom
Human Dendritic Cell15 µm0.75×
Trichomonas vaginalis15 µm0.75×
Human Astrocyte15 µm0.75×
HeLa Cell20 µmsame size
Cellulose Fiber20 µmsame size
Human Erythroblast20 µmsame size
Human Goblet Cell20 µmsame size
Thalassiosira Diatom20 µmthis page
Human Hepatocyte25 µm1.3×
Human Osteocyte25 µm1.3×

Test your sense of scale

Which is bigger: Thalassiosira Diatom or Human Hepatocyte?

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