GMO stands for genetically modified organism, which is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. This can include any living being, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi. The process of genetic modification involves inserting, enhancing, or deleting genes within a species, across species, or even across kingdoms. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacterial, and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.
The definition of a GMO can vary widely between countries, international bodies, and other communities. At its broadest, the definition of a GMO can include anything that has had its genes altered, including by nature. Taking a less broad view, it can encompass every organism that has had its genes altered by humans, which would include all crops and livestock.
GMOs are created in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology. This process involves identifying the genetic information, or "gene," that gives an organism a desired trait, copying that information from the organism that has the trait, inserting that information into the DNA of another organism, and then growing the new organism. While conventional breeding involves mixing all of the genes from two different sources, producing a GMO is much more targeted.
GMOs may be used for a variety of purposes, such as making human insulin, producing fermented beverages, and developing pesticide resistance in crop plants. However, there are concerns about the safety and environmental impact of GMOs, and regulations vary by country.
