The Mystery of the Biggest Genomes

The video explores the vast differences in genome sizes among organisms, highlighting that larger genomes do not necessarily equate to more complexity. It discusses the typical genome size for eukaryotes and examines species with exceptionally large genomes, such as lungfish and certain plants. The video delves into the concept of polyploidy, where organisms have multiple sets of chromosomes, and how this affects genome size. It also touches on genome downsizing in plants and the evolutionary advantages it may confer. Despite the extensive research, many questions about the reasons behind large genomes remain unanswered.

What is the typical size of a human genome in terms of base pairs?

Why do some plants and animals have genomes that exceed 100 billion base pairs?

What challenges are associated with maintaining large genomes?

In what ways might larger genomes not correlate with more complex organisms?

How does polyploidy affect the genomes of certain organisms?