GMOs
Definition
GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.
Analogy
Think of GMOs like customizing your own car. You start with the basic model (the original organism), but then you add on special features and modifications (genes from other organisms) to make it perform better or differently than the standard version.
Related terms
Genetic Engineering: The direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology.
Transgenic Organism: An organism that contains DNA from another species.
Selective Breeding: The process by which humans breed other animals and plants for particular traits.
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