Mutagenesis is a process by which the genetic information of an
organism is changed in a stable manner, resulting in a
mutation. It may occur spontaneously in nature, or as a result of exposure to
mutagens. It can also be achieved experimentally using laboratory procedures. In nature mutagenesis can lead to cancer and various
heritable diseases, but it is also a driving force of evolution. Mutagenesis as a science was developed based on work done by
Hermann Muller,
Charlotte Auerbach and
J. M. Robson in the first half of the 20th century.