What is the process of transferring genes from one organism to another?

The process of transferring genes from one organism to another is accurately described by transgenic technology. This technique involves manipulating the genetic material of an organism to introduce specific genes that may confer desired traits or capabilities, such as pest resistance in plants or enhanced nutritional content. It typically employs methods such as gene insertion using plasmids, viral vectors, or CRISPR-Cas9 technology to achieve this transfer.

Transgenic technology plays a crucial role in agricultural biotechnology, allowing for the development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that can better withstand environmental stresses, improve yield, and reduce dependency on chemical inputs. This contrasts with cloning, which focuses on creating identical copies of an organism, selective breeding, which relies on natural selection to cultivate desired traits without direct gene transfer, and gene sequencing, which involves determining the nucleotide sequence of DNA and does not inherently involve the transfer of genes between organisms.