Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering involves the deliberate manipulation of an organism's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which carries genetic material, in order to produce specific characteristics called phenotypes. The process is known by numerous other names, including genetic modification, genetic manipulation, gene editing, and gene splicing. Genetic engineering techniques such as selective breeding and grafting have been used in agricultural practices for thousands of years, affording humans control over certain animal and plant phenotypes without directly manipulating an organism's genetic material. Modern forms of genetic engineering are made possible by recombinant DNA technology, which allows scientists to identify, edit, and reinsert one or more of an organism's genes by combining it with genetic material drawn from another organism. This technique enables scientists to engineer...