BIOMES & ECOSYSTEMS. Ecosystems. Living Things: Habitats & Ecosystems. Climate Wizard: Climate Change Maps and GIS Data | The Nature Conservancy. Sustainable Table | Genetic Engineering. Genetic engineering (GE) is the modification of an organism’s genetic composition by artificial means, often involving the transfer of specific traits, or genes, from one organism into a plant or animal of an entirely different species.
When gene transfer occurs, the resulting organism is called transgenic or a GMO (genetically modified organism). Genetic engineering is different from traditional cross breeding, where genes can only be exchanged between closely related species. With genetic engineering, genes from completely different species can be inserted into one another. For example, scientists in Taiwan have successfully inserted jellyfish genes into pigs in order to make them glow in the dark. What are genes? All life is made up of one or more cells. During genetic engineering processes, specific genes are removed from one organism and inserted into another plant or animal, thus transferring specific traits.
GE Crops Some GE crops are actually classified as pesticides. GE Animals. The Carbon Cycle Game. Plants Gone Wild: Antarctica Edition. Ecology.