New research has identified the largest known genome of any living organism in an unassuming fern found in New Caledonia, an island chain in the South Pacific Ocean.
After analyzing related samples from New Zealand and Tasmania, Pellicer homed in on the New Caledonian fork fern as a potentially interesting target for study.
Genome gigantism, or genome obesity, is extremely inefficient, the experts explain.
Pol Fernández I MatóPellicer and his colleagues believe that genome size may influence a plant’s chances of extinction.
Could there be a plant with an even bigger genome than the fork fern?
Persons:
”, Jaume Pellicer, Pellicer, Tmesipteris, that’s, ” Pellicer, “, Oriane Hidalgo, polyploidy, Eric Schuettpelz, Fernández, “ it’s, ” Schuettpelz, It’s, David Baum, Pol Fernández, “ I’m, Amanda Schupak
Organizations:
CNN, Botanical Institute of Barcelona, Cell, Smithsonian, “, Genome, University of Wisconsin, Madison, International Union for Conservation of
Locations:
New Caledonia, Paris, Grande Terre, Oriane Hidalgo Ferns, New Zealand, Tasmania, New York City