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Largest Genome Ever

sciencehabit writes "A rare Japanese flower named Paris japonica sports an astonishing 149 billion base pairs, making it 50 times the size of a human genome — and the largest genome ever found. The genome would be taller than Big Ben if stretched out end to end. The researchers warn however that big genomes tend to be a liability: plants with lots of DNA have more trouble tolerating pollution and extreme climatic extinctions—and they grow more slowly than plants with less DNA, because it takes so long to replicate their genome."

15 of 189 comments (clear)

  1. Typo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Dang it. I read it as "Largest Gnome Ever". My brain was already thinking: "WTF? Why would someone need a large desktop manager? Larger than what?" Then, I read the summary. All became clear.

  2. Picture by Glonoinha · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since the article was light on visuals, I found a picture of the largest genome ever.

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    Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
  3. Obviously: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Does ist need a Multipass...?"

  4. Thanks for the warning. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The researchers warn however that big genomes tend to be a liability: plants with lots of DNA have more trouble tolerating pollution and extreme climatic extinctions—and they grow more slowly than plants with less DNA, because it takes so long to replicate their genome.

    I'm glad they warned me. I was considering enlarging my genome, but now that I know the dangers I guess I'll pass.

  5. Largest Genome ever by cappp · · Score: 4, Funny

    My girlfriend always said it's not the size of the genome that counts, its what you do with it.

    1. Re:Largest Genome ever by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, they always say that if you have a small genome.

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      That is all.
  6. Re:Can atheists refute one simple fact? by norppalaho · · Score: 5, Funny

    Please to be fucking off of my internet.

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    One of the coolest sites, ever: zombo.com
  7. think i saw this before... by Ubergrendle · · Score: 4, Funny

    So does this plant run around asking for a MUL-TI-PASS?

    --
    John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"
  8. Thats Big by SuperTechnoNerd · · Score: 3, Funny

    It must be made by Microsoft. Far too many lines of code. :)

  9. Useless comparison by halestock · · Score: 2, Funny

    As tall as Big Ben? That hardly expresses how much data is packed into this genome. I need to know is how many Library of Congresses this genome is in order to fully comprehend the size.

  10. congratulations, we've got a new Unit by CAIMLAS · · Score: 2, Funny

    Congratulations, we now have a new unit of measurement to join the myriad:

    * Libraries of Congress
    * Landmasses of Texas
    * States of Massachusetts
    * California Economies
    * Lines of Code
    * Man-Hours
    * Kilobits per second

    Welcome to the fold, Big Bens!

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    ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
  11. Re:Can atheists refute one simple fact? by nitehawk214 · · Score: 2, Funny

    The answer is simple:w

    Are you typing your slashdot comment with vi?

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  12. Re:Can atheists refute one simple fact? by vjoel · · Score: 2, Funny

    The earth was created by god. god was created by a giant frog. the giant frog was created by robotic jesus.

    And all those lies were created by man, in particular, certain individuals who where trying to control the rest of the population.

    You can't fool me, Mr. James. It's frogs all the way down.

    --
    What part of `yes no` don't you understand?
  13. Bloatware... by SpaceAmoeba · · Score: 3, Funny

    Clearly humans are more efficiently coded.

  14. Re:Can atheists refute one simple fact? by ooshna · · Score: 2, Funny

    He didn't give birth to him. He is a mud man duh. Made out of dirt then God gave him CPR. check your bible before you start talking nonsense.