<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology . It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms . New DNA is obtained by either isolating and copying the genetic material of interest using recombinant DNA methods or by artificially synthesising the DNA . A construct is usually created and used to insert this DNA into the host organism . The first recombinant DNA molecule was made by Paul Berg in 1972 by combining DNA from the monkey virus SV40 with the lambda virus . As well as inserting genes, the process can be used to remove, or "knock out", genes . The new DNA can be inserted randomly, or targeted to a specific part of the genome . </P> <P> An organism that is generated through genetic engineering is considered to be genetically modified (GM) and the resulting entity is a genetically modified organism (GMO). The first GMO was a bacterium generated by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973 . Rudolf Jaenisch created the first GM animal when he inserted foreign DNA into a mouse in 1974 . The first company to focus on genetic engineering, Genentech, was founded in 1976 and started the production of human proteins . Genetically engineered human insulin was produced in 1978 and insulin - producing bacteria were commercialised in 1982 . Genetically modified food has been sold since 1994, with the release of the Flavr Savr tomato . The Flavr Savr was engineered to have a longer shelf life, but most current GM crops are modified to increase resistance to insects and herbicides . GloFish, the first GMO designed as a pet, was sold in the United States in December 2003 . In 2016 salmon modified with a growth hormone were sold . </P>

Manipulation of the genetic makeup of cells or whole organisms is known as