How Are Transgenic Organisms Different From Natural Organisms Of The Same Species?

There is a very obvious difference between a transgenic organism and a natural organism of the same species. A natural organism is one that is produced by the natural process of creation, without any outside interference. The characteristics and traits that such an organism inherits are what are natural to it, they are not 'tuned up' by any outside help. For example a naturally produced cabbage would have the basic characteristics one would attribute to a cabbage growing in that particular region. The basic characteristics of that organism would be influenced by the external factors at work in the region where it is produced, as well as by the genes that it inherits.

A transgenic organism, as the name suggests, is one which has been tinkered with by humans using available technology, at a laboratory. Such tinkering occurs at the genetic level. Usually, a transgenic organism is an improvised version of the natural organism, the improvisation resulting from the introduction of an external gene from another plant or animal. The external gene is transferred into the genetic makeup of the organism in question at the embryonic stage.

A transgenic organism is one in which foreign cells have been injected by laboratory technique. Cloned genes made of DNA (deoxyribonucleic) from microbes, animals, plants are introduced for producing transgenic organisms. This genetic engineering ensures that there are no rotten apples or weak animals on the farm. It has become a well established scientific procedure in the health and food industry.

In animals, genes are inserted into the embryo prior to birth. Each gene which is transferred becomes one with the genetic material or chromosomes and is found in all tissues of the newly born animal. In this way, 'founder stock' is produced. Resultant offspring from this stock will be born with desirable traits and characteristics. Micro injection of cloned genes is the most efficient and successful method of production.

Similar theory is used in plants though different methods are employed to introduce genes into plant cells. Physical or chemical agents are used to transfer DNA to plant cells. Thus certain traits are altered by using modified genes e.g. it delays over ripening in fruits and increases the shelf life of vegetables.

As the name suggests natural organisms are born naturally. The offspring is born with the strengths and weaknesses of the parental organisms; some are clever others mentally retarded, some are perennially sick others achieve Olympian heights. The changes that take place in the new organisms are little by little and generation by generation. Natural selection that is beneficial to the environment happens and organisms evolve over a period of time.

They are totally different. A genetically modified organism (GMO), also known as a transgenic organism, is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.