What are some examples of transgenic organisms?

An organism that has genes from another organism added to it, usually to give it a new ability or function, is called transgenic.

Some crops have been genetically modified to grow well in soil containing high concentrations of salt, such as soybeans; other plants have been engineered to carry the gene for the bacterial toxin Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt), which kills insect pests that would otherwise feed on and destroy the crop.

However, not all transgenic organisms are the result of such drastic genetic modifications; some are just the result of attempts to increase food yield (Bovine growth hormone) or improve nutritional content (Plant crops).

An additional illustration would be human-gene-containing bacteria that produce the hormone insulin, which is then extracted and administered to diabetic patients.

Some examples of transgenic organisms include genetically modified crops like corn, soybeans, and cotton, which have been engineered to possess traits such as resistance to pests, herbicides, or improved nutritional content. Transgenic animals, such as genetically modified mice used in scientific research, are also common examples. Additionally, transgenic bacteria and fungi have been developed for various industrial and medical applications, such as producing insulin or enzymes used in food processing.