The –est Paleontology

Loblolly sets record for biggest genome

Sequence of pine tree’s DNA surpasses the base pairs of wheat

GENE GIANT  The loblolly pine has the biggest set of genetic blueprints ever published.

David Stephens/Bugwood.org

By Ashley Yeager

- More than 2 years ago

A giant among trees, the loblolly pine boasts the largest set of genetic blueprints published to date. Even though it’s big on DNA letters, the pine’s instruction book lacks originality: About 82 percent is made of repeating DNA elements.