Tiny fern breaks world record for largest genome on Earth — with DNA stretching taller than the Statue of Liberty

A small, seemingly unremarkable fern that only grows on a remote Pacific island was on Friday crowned the Guinness World Record holder for having the largest genome of any organism on Earth.  

The New Caledonian fern, Tmesipteris oblanceolata, has more than 50 times more DNA packed into the nucleus of its cells than humans do.

If the DNA from one of the fern's cells — which are just a fraction of a millimeter wide — were unraveled, it would stretch out to 350 feet, scientists said in a new study.