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Do onions have DNA?

Published in Onion Genetics 1 min read

Yes, onions have DNA.

Onions, scientifically known as Allium cepa, are diploid organisms. This means they have two sets of chromosomes, and therefore possess DNA. In fact, onions have a surprisingly large amount of DNA.

Onion DNA Compared to Human DNA

The reference provided highlights that the onion genome is significantly larger than the human genome. Specifically:

  • Onions have a haploid genome size of 15.9 Gb (gigabases).
  • Humans have a haploid genome size of approximately 3.2 Gb.
  • Therefore, onions have roughly 4.9 times as much DNA as humans.

This comparison clearly illustrates that onions not only possess DNA, but they possess a substantial quantity of it. DNA is essential for all living organisms, including plants like onions, as it carries the genetic information needed for growth, development, and reproduction.