Scientists have uncovered a remarkable fern in the remote Pacific island of New Caledonia, setting new benchmarks in the world of botany. This tiny fern, scientifically named Tmesipteris oblanceolata, boasts the largest genome ever recorded in any living organism.
What makes this fern extraordinary is the sheer volume of DNA packed into its cellular nucleus. If all its DNA were unraveled, it would stretch over 100 meters—towering higher than London's iconic Big Ben. In stark contrast, unraveling human DNA would only span approximately 2 meters, roughly the height of an average door.
With over 50 times more DNA than humans, the New Caledonian fern has earned three Guinness World Record titles. This discovery not only highlights the incredible diversity of plant genetics but also opens new avenues for research in genetics and evolutionary biology.
Ilia Leitch, a co-author of the study, discussed the significance of this finding in an interview with CGTN, emphasizing the plant's potential to revolutionize our understanding of genetic complexity and adaptation.
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Record-breaking tiny fern has largest genome of any organism on Earth
cgtn.com
