Ancient Pine Genome Reveals a 23.8-Billion-Base Blueprint for Longevity
Scientists have produced the first complete reference genome for the 5,000-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva), a 23.8-billion-base-pair genome eight times the size of the human genome; the assembly, created with short- and long-read sequencing, reveals a genome rich in repetitive DNA and about 21,364 protein-coding genes. While some longevity-related features—such as disease-resistance genes and longer telomeres—were observed, the researchers cautioned that no single mechanism explains the tree’s lifespan. The genome provides a foundational resource for studying extreme longevity and the species’ response to environmental stress, and may inform conservation efforts.
