Garden strawberries have eight sets of DNA instructions, which is four times more than humans have.

The strawberries we eat today, known as Fragaria × ananassa, first appeared in France around 1750. They were created by accident when a strawberry from North America met one from Chile. Both of these parent plants were already 'octoploid,' meaning they had eight sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two.In 2019, a huge team of 39 researchers from places like Michigan State University and UC Davis finally mapped the strawberry's DNA. They found that a strawberry has about 34,809 genes. That is way more than the 20,000 to 25,000 genes found in a human being.Having so many sets of DNA makes breeding new strawberries a bit like solving a giant puzzle. Because there are so many combinations, traits like sweetness or crunchiness don't pass down in simple ways. However, this complexity is also a superpower that helps the plant survive in many different climates around the world.Scientists even found the specific gene, called MYB10, that tells a strawberry to turn bright red. By studying these genes, farmers can now grow plants that need less water and fewer chemicals to stay healthy. This deep genetic history is why we have over 100 different types of strawberries to enjoy today.