The idea of humankind as a paragon of design is called into question by the puffer fish genome - the smallest, tidiest vertebrate genome of all. May 30, 2008 When I mention the Japanese puffer fish, or fugu, to friends and students who are even slightly pop-culture savvy, I get a predictable response: That’s the fish that almost killed Homer Simpson! The fugu is an actual fish, and a beautiful l…