Researchers have sequenced the largest known animal genome, that of the South American lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa, which contains over 90 billion base pairs, 30 times more than the human genome. This colossal genetic code may help explain the evolutionary transition from water to land, shedding light on how ancient fish like lungfish, with their limb-like fins and lungs, were able to become the ancestors of tetrapods. The South American lungfish genome is notable for its vast amount of 'junk' DNA, attributed to genetic parasites, with 18 of its 19 chromosomes each surpassing the entire human genome in size. This breakthrough was made possible by advanced long-read sequencing technology. The findings also include sequencing of the African lungfish, contributing to our understanding of these 'living fossils' and their evolutionary significance.