South American Lungfish Holds Record for Largest Animal Genome

New research reveals the lungfish's genome is 30 times larger than a human's, offering insights into vertebrate evolution.

The South American lungfish genome contains over 90 billion base pairs, making it the largest animal genome sequenced to date.
Researchers attribute the lungfish's enormous genome to the activity of 'jumping genes' or transposons.
The lungfish's genome has grown by the size of the human genome every 10 million years for the past 100 million years.
Despite its size, the lungfish genome is remarkably stable, aiding in the study of evolutionary processes.
Comparative genomic studies of lungfish species help explain the transition of vertebrates from water to land.