The –est Animals

Antarctic midge sports tiniest insect genome

DNA gets concise by skipping a lot of repetitive stretches

Two Antarctic midges mating

INSECTS — THE SHORT VERSION  The DNA that these Antarctic midges are in the process of passing along to the next generation (female mating at left) gives the most concise directions yet found for how to make an insect.

Richard E. Lee Jr.

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

The smallest known insect genome belongs to an Antarctic midge that has to survive two polar winters as a larva to reach its week or so sexual adulthood.