Genetic engineering is the scientific practice of altering, modifying, or building of an organism’s genes. The organisms used in this process are often the subject of biomedical, evolutionary, or genomic research, and they or their byproducts may be sold as commercial goods. The first genetic engineering technology was developed in 1972 by Paul Berg, who created a recombinant DNA molecule by combining genes from the lambda virus and simian vacuolating virus 40. A year later, the first genetically-modified organism, an Escherichia coli bacterium modified with antibiotic-resistance genes, was created by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen. Today, there are many kinds of genetically-modified microorganisms, animals, and plants that are used for a wide range of purposes.
