What defines a transgenic organism?

A transgenic organism is specifically characterized by the introduction of foreign DNA from a different species into its genome. This process typically involves genetic engineering techniques that allow scientists to add genes that may confer desirable traits, such as pest resistance or improved nutritional value.

The reason this definition is significant is that transgenic organisms are distinct from those created through traditional breeding methods or natural mutations, which involve the combination of genetic material from the same or closely related species without the use of direct gene transfer technology. These methods do not result in the same level of genetic complexity or variation that transgenic modification can achieve.

In summary, the defining trait of a transgenic organism is its modified genetic structure resulting from the incorporation of external DNA, allowing it to express traits that it would not naturally possess.