• Suspension Cloning (Soft Agar Assay):
• Normal adherent somatic cells require attachment to an extracellular matrix or solid substratum to grow (anchorage-dependent growth; detachment triggers anoikis).
• Malignant/tumor cells display anchorage-independent growth, enabling them to proliferate and form macroscopic colonies while suspended in semi-solid media like soft agar or methylcellulose.
• Suspension cloning is the benchmark method for the selective culture, isolation, and quantification of transformed tumor cells.

Correct option: (3) Suspension Cloning