Plants vs. Zombies: Suburbia Defenders/Genetic Modification

Overview
Genetic Modification is a three-tiered form of plant leveling unique to Plants vs. Zombies: Suburbia Defenders. It is unlocked after beating day 15 of The Greenhouse and recieving the Genetic Kit, which prompts a tutorial with Crazy Dave. It provides buffs to some stats and nerfs to others, drastically changing the strategies that can be used with particular Plants. Levels can be purchased for Coins and Plant EXP at the Gene Lab while in the Main Menu, and levels can be switched out at any time when not playing a level.

Plant EXP
Plant EXP takes the place of Seed Packets in Suburbia Defenders, and is required to unlock Genetic Levels. In the Gene Lab, Genetic Level 2 costs 3 EXP and 2,000 Coins, and Level 3 costs 5 EXP and 4,000 Coins. You can obtain EXP by beating levels using a Plant, so a total of 8 levels must be beaten using a Plant to obtain a point. You also cannot replay levels to farm EXP, and levels will only give EXP if they take place after the Plant is obtained, or are part of na EXP Epic Quest, with the Plant being used at least 2 times.

Effects of Genetic Levels
Genetic Levels, while they are a form of powering-up Plants, are not a simple stat increase. While a genetic level-up may buff one or two particular stats (ex: Attack or Health) it will also weaken others (ex: Sun Cost or Attack Speed). The most common form of level-up is an Attack and Health increase, but an increase in Sun Cost and Recharge Time as well. Genetic Levels are mainly used to make a Plant better at its main role, but worse at being a general attacker. For example, Winter Melon's Genetic Levels increase his attack damage and slowing abilities, but weaken his attack speed and sun cost, making him almost unusable unless the player plans a setup to utilize him (for example, by spamming early-game Sunflowers to gain sun quicker or by using weak early-game Plants to stall until he can be planted). These level-ups make Winter Melon an incredibly powerful crowd controller but maes it almost impossible to get multiple copies on the field at the same time. Other examples include Chili Bean becoming more spammable for kills but worse at crowd control or Sap-fling's attack speed decreasing but making longer-lasting, stronger sap puddles, better for bunched groups then spread-out lanes.

Trivia

 * Genetic Modification is heavily based on the levelling system used for the ECLISE mod for PvZ2, with both giving varied, two-sided stat changes to Plants instead of the flat stat increase in PvZ2.
 * All Plants start out at level 1, meaning only 2 levels are needed to be bought before a Plant reaches level 3.
 * After a Plant unlocks level 3, it will not be able to acquire further EXP from any source.