A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. GMOs can include plants, animals, microorganisms, and other organisms whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology. 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, but at its broadest, it can include anything that has had its genes altered, including by nature. Creating a GMO is a multi-step process that involves isolating the gene that genetic engineers wish to insert into the host organism and inserting it into the DNA in the nucleus of a single cell. While conventional breeding involves mixing all of the genes from two different sources, producing a GMO is much more targeted.
GMOs are used in many products that we consume on a daily basis, including food and medicine. However, the release of GMOs into the environment and the marketing of GM foods have resulted in a public debate in many parts of the world. The safety of genetically modified food is a topic of concern for many people, and the issues under debate are usually very similar, including costs, benefits, and risks.
