Notes for A3.1.10 Comparison of genome sizes - IB | RevisionDojo
A3.1.10 Comparison of genome sizes Notes
Genome Size and Complexity
Larger genomes do not necessarily indicate greater biological complexity.
Key contributors to variation include:
Non-coding DNA: repetitive sequences, introns, and transposable elements.
Polyploidy: whole-genome duplication, especially common in plants.
Gene duplication and intron variation: expansion of non-essential DNA regions.
Example
Humans (~3.2 × 10⁹ bp) have a smaller genome than some amphibians or plants (>10¹¹ bp) despite higher organismal complexity.
Summary Table (Typical Genome Sizes)
Group
Approximate Genome Size
Notable Feature
Bacteria
1–10 Mbp
Compact, mostly coding DNA
Fungi
10–100 Mbp
Moderate non-coding regions
Plants
100 Mbp – 100 Gbp
Polyploidy, high non-coding DNA
Animals
100 Mbp – 10 Gbp
Large variation; no link to complexity
Self review
Why might genome size increase without added complexity?
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What is the first step in extracting genome size data?
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Note
A genome refers to the complete set of genetic material in an organism, including all of its DNA sequences. The size of a genome is typically measured in base pairs (bp) or more commonly in millions of base pairs (Mbp) or gigabases (Gb).
The human genome is approximately 3.2 billion base pairs (or 3,200 Mbp) in length.
Genome size can vary dramatically between species, from less than 1 Mbp in some bacteria to over 100,000 Mbp in certain plants.
DefinitionGenomeThe total genetic content of an organism, including all of its DNA sequences.
AnalogyThink of a genome as a library containing all the books (genes) that provide instructions for building and maintaining an organism. The genome size is like counting the total number of pages in the library.
