Tiny Fern Sets Record for Largest Genome on Earth

Tmesipteris oblanceolata, a fern from New Caledonia, has 50 times more DNA than humans, posing new questions about plant biology.

The fern's genome contains 160 billion base pairs, surpassing the previous record-holder, Paris japonica.
Researchers from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Institut Botànic de Barcelona led the study published in iScience.
Despite its large genome, the fern grows slowly and is less efficient at photosynthesis.
This discovery highlights the vast genetic diversity in plants and raises questions about the limits of genome size.
The findings have implications for understanding plant adaptation and biodiversity.