Key points from article :
Scientists have discovered that a fern, Tmesipteris oblanceolata, has the largest genome of any living organism. Found only on New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean, the fern's genome is 160 billion base pairs long, which would stretch out to about 100 meters. This genome size is over 50 times larger than the human genome, which has 3 billion base pairs and would reach only 2 meters if unraveled.
Researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew conducted this study. They collected specimens from the rainforest and used a dye-binding method to measure the genome size. The more dye that binds to the DNA, the larger the genome. The results, published in iScience, confirmed this fern now holds Guinness World Records for the largest genome, largest plant genome, and largest fern genome.
This discovery raises questions about how such a tiny plant can function with such an enormous genome. The fern belongs to a primitive plant group that evolved before dinosaurs, and little is known about its biology. Scientists hope to learn how genome size might influence the plant’s survival and extinction risk.
This research highlights that not all record-breaking organisms are the most visible or recognizable, reminding us of the vast complexity in the natural world.
