Roses are among the planet’s most popular flowers, beloved for their intoxicating aroma and beauty. A new and more complete genetic sequencing endeavor could make them smell even sweeter and stay fresh longer.

Roses are among the planet's most popular flowers, beloved for their intoxicating aroma and beauty.  A new and more complete genetic sequencing endeavor could make them smell even sweeter and stay fresh longer, notes the New York Times. A team of international researchers recently performed the most comprehensive analysis of the flower to date, pinpointing which ones contribute to various attributes.  "You have here a book of the history of the rose. A book that helps us understand the rose, its history and its journey through evolution and domestication," Mohammed Bendahmane, one of the researchers, told the BBC. That guide is anticipated to help breeders create flowers that are more resistant to pests and disease and bring back some of the traits, such as aroma intensity, lost over years of cultivation.  It is also expected to make the process of creating new varieties much more eco-friendly, as the quickened process will save on the years of water and energy consumption generally required for the effort.