Question

What does the term 'genetically modified organisms' mean?

Answer 1

1. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are living organisms which have been genetically "engineered" by the insertion of a foreign gene.
2. These living organisms may be plants, animals, or bacteria.
3. The foreign gene is inserted to increase the value of the recipient organism.
4. The foreign gene can come from any one of a number of different sources and is known as the transgene.
5. Transgenesis is achieved by injecting a gene from one organism into the embryonic cells of another organism.
6. Once injected, the gene becomes part of the host cell's DNA and is inherited by all cells formed during embryonic development.
7. The new gene can then be inherited by the offspring of the organism in the same way as the organism's own genes, carrying the desired trait from parent to offspring.
8. Transgenesis has been used to develop new varieties of food, such as fruits and vegetables.