A plant, animal, bacteria or other life form that has had its DNA artificially altered by new processes known collectively as genetic engineering.
An organism in which the genetic material has been altered anthropogenically by means of recombinant DNA technologies. (from ICES 2003)
GMOs are plants and animals that have had their genetic make-up altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs. In general, genes are taken (copied) from one organism that shows a desired trait and transferred into the genetic code of another organism. Genetic modification is currently allowed in conventional farming (see above).
An organism whose genetic make-up has been deliberately altered. Commonly used to improve the growth of food crops and their resistance to pests. Concerns exist that GMO foods may impact human health and the natural order of the environment.
"Genetically modified organism" means, unless expressly provided otherwise by regulations, any organism in which any of the genes or other genetic material that: (a) Have been modified by in-vitro techniques; or (b) Are inherited or otherwise derived, through any number of replications, from any genes or other genetic material which has been modified by in-vitro techniques.
Plants that have had a gene inserted to them to alter their characteristics. A corn commonly grown in America, for instance, has a gene that causes it to exude a natural toxin that kills insect pests, thus offering the farmer savings in chemical insecticides. Farm animals and fish are among the next generation of GMOs. Critics say GMOs are potentially dangerous for health and the environment, but there is scant evidence, at this early stage, to support those claims.
organisms whose genetic make up has been altered by the insertion or deletion of small fragments of DNA in order to create or enhance desirable characteristics from the same or another species
A term, currently used most often in international trade discussions, that designates crops that carry new traits that have been inserted through advanced genetic engineering methods (e.g., Flavr Saver tomato, Roundup Ready soybeans, Bt cotton, Bt corn). GMO crops are meeting resistence from some trading partners, particularly the European Union, that are responding in turn to consumer concerns over public health and environmental safety aspects of GMOs. USDA also is being pressured to declare GMOs unacceptable in the proposed National Organic Program. The U.S. scientific community maintains that research shows GMOs to be safe and that the regulatory process for their commercial approval, which includes USDA, Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, is an adequate safeguard against any potential problems.
Foods that have been created or modified by the use of genetic engineering techniques in which DNA has been introduced, deleted, or inhibited.
