The animal with the biggest DNA deciphered so far is the lungfish.
Lungfish Genome Size
- According to research, the lungfish genome is the largest animal genome to ever be sequenced.
- It consists of approximately 43 billion base pairs.
- To put this in perspective, the lungfish genome is 14 times larger than the human genome.
Genome Size Comparison (Example)
| Animal | Genome Size (Base Pairs) |
|---|---|
| Lungfish | 43 Billion |
| Human | ~3 Billion |
What Does a Large Genome Mean?
While it's tempting to think a larger genome equates to greater complexity, it's not always the case. The size of the genome is not directly proportional to the organism's complexity. The lungfish's large genome has been attributed to repetitive DNA sequences.
