Question

Which best describes a transgenic organism?
A. One that act as the donor for the DNA to be moved into another organism
B. One produced by cloning a mutant cell
C. One that contains a foreign gene and is free-living in the environment
D. Any genetically modified organism – resulting from laboratory research

Answer 1

Hint: An organism is any individual entity that has the properties of life. Organisms are classified as multicellular organisms (plants, animals) and unicellular organisms (bacteria, archaea).

Complete Answer:
Transgenic organisms:Transgenic organisms are also called as the genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- They are the organisms whose genetic material has been altered due to the technique of genetic engineering.
- Genetic engineering is also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation.
- Genetic engineering is a process in which we use recombinant DNA technology to alter the genetic makeup of an organism.
- A wide variety of organisms has been genetically modified from animals to plants and microorganisms.
- Creating a transgenic organism is a multistep process.
- Genetic engineers first have to isolate the desired gene from the source and then they have to insert it into the host organism.
- Transgenic organisms are the free living organisms that are present in the environment.
- They contain a foreign gene which is the desired gene isolated from a different source.

Hence the correct answer is option C.

Note: The first genetically modified organism was a bacterium which was generated by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973. Flavr Savr tomato was the first plant that was genetically engineered. The rise of commercialized genetically modified crops has provided economic benefits for the farmers.