Non-genetic Engineering Method: Somaclonal Variation

When plant cells are grown in vitro (eggs from female ovary are removed and fertilized with male sperm in a laboratory procedure, and then the fertilized egg (embryo) is re-planted in the female), spontaneous mutations will occur, producing progenies with new traits. This method is capable of producing potentially valuable variants in a range of different crops has been largely substituted with more predictable methods.

Adapted from: Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects, Institute of Medicine and National Research Council of the National Academies, 2004, The National Academy Press