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Human BodySurprise 5/5Difficulty 4/5Reviewed on September 13, 2026

About 74 percent of people may have a type of giant DNA hiding in their mouth.

Why it is true

Researchers at the University of Tokyo discovered Inocles, extrachromosomal DNA elements with an average of 350 kilobase pairs, one of the largest ever found in the human microbiome. These structures help mouth bacteria adapt and may influence oral health.

Source: University of Tokyo

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