What process can lead to the creation of transgenic plants?

The creation of transgenic plants involves the direct alteration of an organism's genetic material, which is precisely what gene editing accomplishes. This technique enables scientists to insert specific genes from one organism into the genome of a plant, making it transgenic. Gene editing can involve the use of technologies like CRISPR, which allows for precise modifications at the DNA level, thereby introducing new traits or enhancing existing ones in the plant.

In contrast, cross-pollination relies on the natural reproductive processes between plants and does not involve direct genetic manipulation or inclusion of foreign DNA. Selective breeding involves choosing parent plants with desirable traits to breed new generations, which can enhance certain characteristics but does not create transgenic plants. Natural selection is an evolutionary process that occurs over long periods, favoring traits that improve survival and reproduction in a given environment, but again, it does not involve the introduction of genes from different organisms in a laboratory setting.