An article published in the journal “Genome Research” reports the DNA sequencing of Wolffia australiana, considered the fastest growing plant in the world. A team of researchers led by Todd Michael of the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, USA, used advanced genetic sequencing techniques to accomplish this task. Understanding Wolffia australiana’s genetic characteristics means not only understanding how it grows so quickly but also how this plant is optimized for growth at the expense of other functions such as root growth and pest defense. The importance of this study also lies in the fact that the Wolffia australiana is part of the diet of some Southeast Asia populations, and a careful selection of its characteristics could make it an important protein source.