Application:
• Comparison of genome size of T2 phage, Escherichia coli, Drosophila melanogaster, Homo sapiens and
Paris japonica
Genome size can vary greatly between organisms and is not a valid indicator of genetic complexity
- The largest known genome is possessed by the canopy plant Paris japonica – 150 billion base pairs
- The smallest known genome is possessed by the bacterium Carsonella ruddi – 160,000 base pairs
As a general rule:
- Viruses and bacteria tend to have very small genomes
- Prokaryotes typically have smaller genomes than eukaryotes
- Sizes of plant genomes can vary dramatically due to the capacity for plant species to self-fertilise and become polyploid
Comparison of Genome Size in Different Organisms
Variation in Genome Sizes For Different Types of Organisms
