https://phys.org/news/2024-05-tiny-fern-largest-genome-earth.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology [INS::INS] * * share this! * 630 * Twit * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Biology 3. Plants & Animals 1. Home 2. Biology 3. Molecular & Computational biology * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- May 31, 2024 Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread This tiny fern has the largest genome of any organism on Earth by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Record breaker: This tiny fern has the largest genome of any organism on Earth The fern species Tmesipteris oblanceolata from New Caledonia was found to have more than 50 times more DNA in each cell than humans. According to new research, its genome size is 160.45 gigabase pairs. Credit: Pol Fernandez In a new study published in the journal iScience, researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Institut Botanic de Barcelona (IBB-CSIC) in Spain present a new record-holder for the largest amount of DNA stored in the nucleus of any living organism on the planet. Coming in at more than 100 meters of unraveled DNA, the New Caledonian fork fern species Tmesipteris oblanceolata was found to contain more than 50 times more DNA than humans and has dethroned the Japanese flowering plant species Paris japonica, which has held this record since 2010. In addition, the plant has achieved three Guinness World Records titles for Largest plant genome, Largest Genome, and Largest fern genome for the amount of DNA in the nucleus. T. oblanceolata is a rare species of fern found on the island nation of New Caledonia, an overseas French territory situated in the Southwest Pacific, about 750 miles east of Australia, and some of the neighboring islands such as Vanuatu. The genus Tmesipteris is an understudied group of plants consisting of about 15 species, most of which occur across a range of Pacific Islands and Oceania. Until now, scientists have only estimated the size of the genomes for two species of Tmesipteris--T. tannensis and T. obliqua--both of which were found to contain gigantic genomes, at 73.19 and 147.29 gigabase pairs (Gbp) respectively. In 2023, lead authors Dr. Jaume Pellicer and Dr. Oriane Hidalgo, from the IBB and formerly of RBG Kew, traveled to New Caledonia to collect samples of Tmesipteris, which were then analyzed to estimate the size of their genomes. This involved isolating the nuclei of thousands of cells, staining them with a dye and then measuring how much dye had bound to the DNA within each nucleus--the more dye, the bigger the genome. The previous record holder for the world's largest genome was the flowering plant, Paris Japonica at 148.89 gigabase pairs. Credit: RBG Kew The analysis revealed the species T. oblanceolata to have a record-breaking genome size of 160.45 Gbp, which is about 7% larger than that of P. japonica (148.89 Gbp). When unraveled, the DNA from each cell of this fern would stand taller than the Elizabeth Tower in Westminster, London, which is 96m tall and home to the world-famous Big Ben bell. For comparison, the human genome contains about 3.1 Gbp distributed across 23 chromosomes and when stretched out like a ball of yarn, the length of DNA in each cell only measures about 2m. [INS::INS] Dr. Pellicer, a researcher in evolutionary biology, says, "Tmesipteris is a unique and fascinating small genus of ferns, whose ancestors evolved about 350 million years ago--well before dinosaurs set foot on Earth--and it is distinguished by its mainly epiphytic habit [it grows mainly on the trunks and branches of trees] and restricted distribution in Oceania and several Pacific Islands. "For a long time, we thought that breaking the previous size record of Paris japonica was going to be an impossible mission, but once again, the limits of biology have surpassed our most optimistic predictions. "Based on our previous research, we anticipated the existence of giant genomes in Tmesipteris. That said, discovering the largest genome of them all is not just a feat of scientific exploration, but the result of an almost fourteen-year journey into the boundless complexity and diversity of plant genomes." To date, scientists across the globe have estimated the genome sizes of more than 20,000 eukaryotic organisms, revealing in the process a wide range of genome sizes across the tree of life. These, in turn, have been found to have a profound impact not only on their anatomy, as bigger genomes need bigger cells to house them and take longer to replicate, but also how they function, evolve, and where and how they live. Record breaker: This tiny fern has the largest genome of any organism on Earth The DNA of T. oblanceolata measures over 106m in length, making it taller than Elizabeth Tower in London, home to Big Ben. Credit: Pol Fernandez In animals, some of the largest genomes include the marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus) at 129.90 Gbp and the Neuse River waterdog (Necturus lewisi) at 117.47 Gbp. In stark contrast, six of the largest-known eukaryotic genomes are held by plants, including the European mistletoe (Viscum album) at 100.84 Gbp. Surprisingly, having a larger genome is usually not an advantage. In the case of plants, species possessing large amounts of DNA are restricted to being slow growing perennials, are less efficient at photosynthesis (the process by which plants convert the sun's energy into sugars) and require more nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphates) to grow and compete successfully with their smaller-genomed neighbors. In turn, such effects may influence the ability of a plant to adapt to climate change and their risk of extinction. Dr. Ilia Leitch, Senior Research Leader--Character Evolution, at RBG Kew, says, "Who would have thought this tiny, unassuming plant that most people would likely walk past without notice, could bear a world-beating record in genome size. "Compared to other organisms, plants are incredibly diverse when viewed at the DNA level, and that should make us pause to think about their intrinsic value in the wider picture of global biodiversity. This discovery also raises many new and exciting questions about the upper limits of what is biologically possible, and we hope to solve these mysteries one day." Adam Millward, Managing Editor of Guinness World Records, says, "To think this innocuous-looking fern boasts 50 times more DNA than humans is a humbling reminder that there's still so much about the plant kingdom we don't know, and that record holders aren't always the showiest on the outside." More information: Oriane Hidalgo and Jaume Pellicer et al, A 160 Gbp fork fern genome shatters size record for eukaryotes. iScience (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109889 Journal information: iScience Provided by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Citation: This tiny fern has the largest genome of any organism on Earth (2024, May 31) retrieved 8 June 2024 from https://phys.org/news /2024-05-tiny-fern-largest-genome-earth.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Explore further Using reference genome of the species itself is optimal for SNP calling, finds study --------------------------------------------------------------------- 668 shares * Facebook * Twitter * Email Feedback to editors * Featured * Last Comments * Popular Saturday Citations: Praising dogs; the evolution of brown fat; how SSRIs relieve depression. Plus: Boeing's Starliner 10 hours ago 0 Nonreciprocal quantum batteries exhibit remarkable capacities and efficiency 10 hours ago 0 New dating technique more accurately estimates time differences between Paleolithic hearth fires Jun 6, 2024 0 Core sediment samples show West Antarctica was likely river delta or estuary during Eocene Jun 6, 2024 1 New rare 'green bean' galaxy discovered Jun 6, 2024 0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- [gif] Study finds fresh water and key conditions for life appeared on Earth a half-billion years earlier than thought 4 hours ago [gif] Saturday Citations: Praising dogs; the evolution of brown fat; how SSRIs relieve depression. Plus: Boeing's Starliner 10 hours ago [gif] Nonreciprocal quantum batteries exhibit remarkable capacities and efficiency 10 hours ago [gif] New method optimizes lithium extraction from seawater and groundwater 12 hours ago [gif] Rare 7-foot fish washed ashore on Oregon's coast garners worldwide attention Jun 7, 2024 [gif] California wildfire pollution killed 52,000 in a decade: study Jun 7, 2024 [gif] Quantum chemistry and simulation help characterize coordination complex of elusive element 61 Jun 7, 2024 [gif] A protein that enables smell in ants--and stops cell death Jun 7, 2024 [gif] Cascadia Subduction Zone, one of Earth's top hazards, comes into sharper focus Jun 7, 2024 [gif] New research finds lake under Mars ice cap unlikely Jun 7, 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Relevant PhysicsForums posts Insulin resistance and external insulin 3 hours ago How do fetuses breathe in the womb? 5 hours ago COVID Virus Lives Longer with Higher CO2 In the Air Jun 7, 2024 Universal wing- and fin-beat frequency scaling Jun 5, 2024 A DNA Animation May 29, 2024 Probability, genetic disorder related May 28, 2024 More from Biology and Medical --------------------------------------------------------------------- [INS::INS] * Related Stories [gif] Using reference genome of the species itself is optimal for SNP calling, finds study May 15, 2024 [gif] Untangling the roots of plant genomes: Supporting a 'moonshot' for botany Jan 19, 2022 [gif] Scientists discover giant insect genome Mar 16, 2023 [gif] Dynamics of genome evolution shape diversification of fern lineages Aug 19, 2021 [gif] Rabbits like to eat plants with lots of DNA Mar 19, 2019 [gif] Decoding the Easter Bunny: Eastern Finnish brown hare represents standard for species' genome Mar 20, 2024 * Recommended for you [gif] Rare 7-foot fish washed ashore on Oregon's coast garners worldwide attention Jun 7, 2024 [gif] A protein that enables smell in ants--and stops cell death Jun 7, 2024 [gif] DNA in the feces of snow leopards shows alpine cats eat plants Jun 7, 2024 [gif] Study adds new sea cucumber species to the research toolbox Jun 7, 2024 [gif] Tree hidey-holes key to helping slow declines of small mammals Jun 7, 2024 [gif] Study sheds light on how conflicting processes occur within a single cell Jun 7, 2024 Load comments (0) Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request [-- please select one -- ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message to the editors [ ] Your email (only if you want to be contacted back) [ ] Send Feedback Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages. E-mail the story This tiny fern has the largest genome of any organism on Earth Your friend's email [ ] Your email [ ] [ ] I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn more Your name [ ] Note Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message [ ] Send Newsletter sign up Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. [ ] Subscribe More information Privacy policy Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account. Remove ads Maybe later Medical Xpress Medical Xpress Medical research advances and health news Tech Xplore Tech Xplore The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances Science X Science X The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web Newsletters [ ] Subscribe Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox Follow us * * * * * Top * Home * Search * Mobile version * Help * FAQ * About * Contact * Science X Account * Premium Account * Archive * News wire * Android app * iOS app * RSS feeds * Push notification (c) Phys.org 2003 - 2024 powered by Science X Network Privacy policy Terms of use E-mail newsletter [ ] Subscribe Follow us * * * * It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. What are the consequences? x Quantcast