The sunflower family is the largest plant family on Earth, encompassing more than 24,000 species, including lettuce, artichokes, dandelions, and other plants. The sunflower's genome is 3.5 billion letters long, only slightly longer than the human genome. Researchers are now mapping the sunflower's DNA sequence to identify genes responsible for agriculturally important traits. Some of these traits include seed oil content, flowering, and drought and pest tolerance. Once researchers identify these genes, they aspire to crossbreeding a new species of sunflower with all the desirable traits.