What Has the Longest DNA?
The Tmesipteris oblanceolata, a small fern-like plant, currently holds the record for having the longest DNA.
This unassuming plant boasts a genome containing a staggering 160 billion base pairs, dwarfing the human genome by more than 50 times. This discovery was made in May 2024 and represents a significant advancement in our understanding of genome size variation across the biological spectrum. Multiple sources, including the BBC, CNN, and Nature, have reported on this remarkable finding. [See references below for details].
Other Notable Contenders
While Tmesipteris oblanceolata takes the crown for the overall longest DNA, other organisms possess exceptionally large genomes:
- Paris japonica: This Japanese plant previously held the record with approximately 149 billion base pairs.
- Australian lungfish: This animal's genome, while smaller than the fern's, is still significantly larger than a human's, clocking in at approximately 43 billion base pairs—14 times the size of the human genome.
The size of an organism's genome doesn't directly correlate with its complexity. This highlights the incredible diversity and still-mysterious aspects of genomic evolution.
References
- BBC News: Tiny fern smashes world record for biggest DNA
- CNN: The largest genome ever discovered belongs to a humble fern
- Nature: Biggest genome ever found belongs to this odd little plant
- Science: This unassuming fern has the largest known genome—and no one knows why
- University of Würzburg: The World's Largest Animal Genome
