An organism that carries a gene from another species is called transgenic. The foreign gene, or transgene, is introduced by laboratory methods and is stably inherited. The technique allows researchers to study gene function, produce useful proteins, and improve agricultural traits.

Mice carrying human disease genes serve as models for research. Plants engineered with bacterial toxin genes resist insect pests. Goats that secrete human antithrombin in their milk provide a pharmaceutical product. The same principles underlie many gene-therapy approaches in humans.

Creation of a transgenic organism requires a reliable method of DNA delivery—microinjection, viral vectors, or gene guns—and subsequent breeding to establish a stable line. Regulatory oversight addresses environmental release and food safety. The technology remains a cornerstone of modern experimental biology and biotechnology.

• Organism containing a gene from another species
• Created by laboratory introduction of DNA
• Used in research, agriculture, and biopharming
• Transgene is stably inherited