genetic engineering

noun

: the group of applied techniques of genetics and biotechnology used to cut up and join together genetic material and especially DNA from one or more species of organism and to introduce the result into an organism in order to change one or more of its characteristics
genetically engineered adjective
genetic engineer noun

Examples of genetic engineering in a Sentence

The crops were made resistant to disease by genetic engineering.
Recent Examples on the Web Colossal has been working to bring the mammoth, the dodo bird and other extinct species back to life using the latest cloning and genetic engineering techniques. Rob Stein, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024 When Gore held a hearing on genetic engineering — at a time when scientists were sharply divided on the emerging capabilities — Sharples sat beside the congressman, passing notes and prompting him to probe further. Michael Laris, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023 Another Nobel winner, Paul Berg, a father of genetic engineering, was 96. William McDonald, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2023 Compared to classic genetic engineering, which was a slow and inefficient process, Church says Crispr allows researchers to make many simultaneous edits and thus address multiple incompatibilities between pigs and humans at once. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2023 Rita, suffering panic attacks, loses touch with husband Juan in the woods, then stumbles across a strange community, guarded by a hostile ranger, whose inhabitants are the result of years of genetic engineering. John Hopewell, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023 Isolated and distributed in tiny vials to laboratories around the world, CRISPR would become the primary tool of genetic engineering. Dana Goodyear, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2023 Now, scientists are using genetic engineering to make pig organs more suitable for people. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2023 In some of the cells, the researchers used genetic engineering to add genes encoding other ion channels, enabling optogenetic switching with red and blue light. Philip Ball, Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'genetic engineering.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of genetic engineering was in 1951

Dictionary Entries Near genetic engineering

Cite this Entry

“Genetic engineering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genetic%20engineering. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

genetic engineering

noun
: the alteration of genetic material and especially the cutting up and joining together of DNA from one or more species for introduction into a living thing in order to change one or more of its characteristics
genetically engineered adjective
genetic engineer noun

Medical Definition

genetic engineering

noun
: the group of applied techniques of genetics and biotechnology used to cut up and join together genetic material and especially DNA from one or more species of organism and to introduce the result into an organism in order to change one or more of its characteristics
genetically engineered adjective
genetic engineer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on genetic engineering

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