Giant bacteria are bacteria which exeed 10 μm(micrometers). There are many theoretical limitations such as ribosomes theoretically needing to get larger than the volume of the cell which do not actually apply. Another issue that does not apply is getting the proteins across such large distances. Most giant bacteria have more than 2 complete sets of chromosomes(polyploidy) and sometimes have thousands of total chromosomes making it so the proteins do not truly have to go such far distances. Interaction between distant chromosomes within the cell is very unlikely leading to some theoretical problems such as Müller's Ratchet where mutations can not be corrected as easily due to lack of exchange of genetic imformation throughout different parts the cells. The extreme diversity of the genes in the cells however makes it so the chromosomes throughout the cells can exchange enough genetic information to remain healthy, which is evidenced by how different the cells are in different parts. In some cases, this genetic diversity is caused by the daughter cells taking up DNA from multiple mother cells during reproduction. Heterozygosity, the ability for multiple chromosomes with different genes throughout the cell, is in some giant bacteria but not others and may be responsible for the adaption of giant bacteria to different environments. The movement of DNA within the cells can be used to increase our understanding of molecular biology and how bacteria are able to adapt.There are many unknowns about giant bacteria such as what other bacteria they are related to and how to classify them, weather cell size has a direct correlation with number of chromosomes, and how they regulate gene expression across such a large size.
