genetically modified organism

noun

1

: a plant, animal, or microorganism whose DNA has been altered artificially through the insertion, deletion, or modification of one or more genes in order to express (see express sense 3) a desired trait or traits : an organism manipulated by genetic modification for the purpose of changing one or more phenotypic characteristics

The use of genetically modified organisms raises legitimate concerns about their survival and propagation in the environment, and about the dissemination of antibiotic selection markers or other genetic modifications to other microbes.

—Peter Lee, Bioengineered Bugs

… in 1978 Cohen and colleagues progressed to transfer an insulin synthesis gene into a plasmid of E. coli, with that producing the first genetically modified organism (GMO). By 1982 this protocol received full approval from national drug regulatory authorities, notably the US Food and Drug Administration, thereby enabling the economically viable mass production of human insulin …

—S. S. Rajakaruna and A. W. Taylor-Robinson, Journal of Applied Biotechnology & Bioengineering

called also GMO

2

: something that is the product of an organism that has undergone genetic modification

Bs2 tomatoes are transgenic tomatoes that have been engineered to contain the Bs2 gene from pepper. As such, they are considered a genetically modified (GM) food, or a genetically modified organism …

—S. F. Hutton et al., The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

called also GMO