Gmo
In short
A genetically modified organism is any living thing, such as a plant, animal, or microbe, whose DNA has been changed using laboratory techniques.
In plain words
Scientists change the building blocks of life to give an organism new traits. This is done in a way that does not happen through natural breeding or mating.
A simple example
A scientist might take a gene from a hardy bacteria and put it into a corn plant. This allows the corn to survive pests that would normally kill it.
Why it matters
This technology helps create crops that grow faster or resist disease. It is also used in medicine to produce vital substances like insulin.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse GMOs with selective breeding, which uses natural mating to achieve similar results over many generations.