The Pando tree, located in the U.S. state of Utah, has been confirmed as one of the oldest and largest living organisms on Earth. Known scientifically as Populus tremuloides, the tree spans an enormous area and has been the subject of recent research to determine its age and evolutionary history.
DNA samples taken from the tree have helped scientists estimate its age to be between 16,000 and 80,000 years, solidifying its status as one of the planet’s oldest living beings. The study, which involved analyzing hundreds of samples, also revealed how Pando has adapted to its environment over thousands of years through genetic variations.
Rosanne Pino, an evolutionary geneticist from the University of Chicago and co-author of the study, expressed excitement about the opportunity to study such a remarkable organism.
Pando, meaning “I spread” in Latin, consists of nearly 47,000 stems that span 105 acres within Utah’s Fishlake National Forest. Despite appearing as separate trees, Pando is technically a single organism, with its vast root system linking all the stems together.