Unfurling the Fern: Meet the Plant with the World’s Largest Genome

Welcome to HowSmart.net, your source for extraordinary trivia. Today, we’re diving deep into the leafy mysteries of Tmesipteris oblanceolata, a tiny fern with a genome larger than life—literally. This fern’s DNA is so extensive that it could stretch over 330 feet, towering above even the Statue of Liberty. Get ready to explore the top ten fascinating facts about this botanical wonder.

Top Ten Facts About the Largest Genome Organism

1. Discovery of the Fern: Who did it?

Meet Tmesipteris oblanceolata, the tiny fern with a giant genetic footprint. Discovered by an international team from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Queen Mary University of London, the Herbarium of New Caledonia, and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC), this groundbreaking find was published in iScience on May 31, 2024.

2. Genome Size: How big?

Hold onto your microscopes! This tiny fern’s genome is a whopping 160.45 gigabase pairs (Gbp), making it about 50 times larger than the human genome. Talk about overachieving!

3. Comparison with the Previous Record Holder: 7% difference

Move over, Paris Japonica! The flowering plant once held the title with a genome of 148.89 Gbp, but Tmesipteris oblanceolata’s genome is roughly 7% larger, claiming the new crown.

4. Physical Extent of DNA: Longer than the Statue of Liberty

If you unraveled the DNA from a single cell of this fern, it would stretch over 330 feet—taller than the Statue of Liberty. In comparison, human DNA stretches to a modest six feet. Size does matter in the plant world!

5. Habitat: Welcome to New Caledonia

This rare fork fern calls New Caledonia home. Nestled in the Southwest Pacific, this French territory provides the perfect tree trunks and branches for this genomic giant to grow.

6. Impact on Growth and Survival: Will it survive?

With great genome size comes great responsibility. Plants like Tmesipteris oblanceolata are slow-growing and need more nutrients, which could make adapting to environmental changes challenging, increasing their extinction risk.

7. Research Significance: Why is it important?

The discovery of this fern’s colossal genome raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary significance of such large genomes. Scientists are eager to piece together this genetic puzzle, expanding our understanding of plant evolution and diversity.

8. Chromosome Hoarding: Nature’s archive

Ferns are notorious chromosome hoarders, accumulating extra copies of chromosomes and repeating DNA sequences. Tmesipteris oblanceolata is no exception, proudly flaunting its genetic hoarding habits.

9. Global Genome Studies: Go Eukaryotes!

This fern’s genome was measured as part of a global initiative to map the genomes of over 20,000 eukaryotic organisms. It’s a testament to the incredible diversity of life on Earth.

10. Recognition: A Bona Fide World Record

Drumroll, please! Guinness World Records has officially recognized Tmesipteris oblanceolata as the organism with the largest genome. This accolade cements its place in scientific history and trivia fame.

FAQ Section

Keep an eye on HowSmart.net for more fascinating trivia and updates. Whether you’re a trivia aficionado or just curious about the weird and wonderful world of plants, Tmesipteris oblanceolata offers a glimpse into the extraordinary. Next time you think your to-do list is long, just remember this fern’s DNA stretches over 330 feet!

Plants Trivia Quiz Time

Now that you know all the facts about the world’s largest genome, how about a quiz?

Plants Mini Quiz

5 Quick Multiple-choice general knowledge questions about flowers, trees, and even sea grass. No time-limit. How smart are you today?

1 / 5

1. How many tree species are on Earth?

Photo: Artur Warchavchik, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Roughly 730.

Roughly 7,300.

Roughly 73,300.

Roughly 733,000.

On Jan. 31, 2022, researchers unveiled the world’s most extensive forest database, comprising more than 44 million individual trees at more than 100,000 sites in 90 countries – helping them calculate that Earth has roughly 73,300 tree species. South America, home to the Amazon rainforest and Andean forests, is populated with 43% of the planet’s tree species. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

2 / 5

2. What makes Saxaul trees unique?

Photo: Abodi009, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

They produce seeds only as they become drier.

They produce seeds only when it rains.

They produce seeds only once every 20 years.

They produce golden seeds.

Saxaul trees, commonly known by their Arabic name Al-Ghadha, produce seeds only as they become drier. The saxaul can survive for months without water and thrives where temperatures soar to 58 degrees Celsius (136 F). Guinness World Records recognized Saudi Arabia’s Unaizah park as the world’s largest saxaul botanic garden, stretching over 172 sq km (66.41 sq miles). As part of the Saudi government’s green initiative to reduce carbon emissions, pollution, and land degradation, the Al-Ghadha environmental association plans to plant 250,000 drought-resistant Saxaul trees during 2022 in Unaizah.

3 / 5

3. What’s the world’s largest plant?

Photo: Rachel Austin / The University of Western Australia

Poseidon’s ribbon weed.

The General Sherman tree.

Mediterranean tapeweed.

The Indian banyan.

Poseidon’s ribbon weed, or Posidonia australis, found in Shark Bay, off the western end of Australia, is the world’s largest plant. The seagrass — not to be confused with seaweed and algae — spreads at least 180 km (77 square miles), about the size of Cincinnati. A new study published on June 1, 2022, in Proceedings of the Royal Society, shows that Shark Bay’s Poseidon’s ribbon weed colony is one giant organism that has been cloning for about 4,500 years, the largest known example of a clone in any environment on Earth.

Is it the largest organism on Earth?

Utah’s Pando, a clonal colony of 40,000 aspen trees connected by their roots, is the former “heaviest known organism.” covering an area of about 500 square meters (0.16 square miles) and weighing 6,000 tonnes. But the Humongous Fungus is probably even more enormous, weaving a web of mycelial tendrils (the root network of mushrooms) covering 3.7 square miles (9.6 square km) of Oregon’s Malheur National Forest. Scientists calculate it could weigh at least 7,500 tons and maybe up to 35,000 tons, making it the world’s most massive living organism.

4 / 5

4. How many leaves does the Welwitschia have?

Photo: Sara&Joachim on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

8.

4.

2.

1.

Welwitschia is a two-leafed plant that grows in parts of the Namib Desert in southern Africa and can live for more than 1,000 years.

Welwitschia Undead Fact

In Afrikaans, the plant is named “tweeblaarkanniedood,” which means “two leaves that cannot die.” The name is appropriate: Welwitschia grows only two leaves continuously — in a lifetime that can last millenniums.

5 / 5

5. As part of the 2020 elections, Mississippi flew a new state flag with What Flower?

Image: Rocky Vaughn, Sue Anna Joe, and Kara Giles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Magnolia.

Apple blossom.

Orange blossom.

Sunflower.

As approved by voters in the 2020 elections, the new Mississippi state flag, with the magnolia flower, replaces a Confederate-themed flag that lawmakers retired months ago as part of the national reckoning over racial injustice.

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Sources

We cross-checked our trivia facts about the world’s largest genome with the world’s leading news outlets.

• iScience: A 160 Gbp fork fern genome shatters size record for eukaryotes
• CNN: The largest genome ever discovered belongs to a humble fern
• BBC News: Tiny fern smashes world record for biggest DNA
• The New York Times: Scientists Find the Largest Known Genome Inside a Small Plant