A
genetically modified organism (
GMO) is any organism whose
genetic material has been altered using
genetic engineering techniques (i.e. genetically
engineered organism). GMOs are the source of medicines and
genetically modified foods and are also widely used in scientific research and to produce other goods.The term GMO is very close to the
technical legal term, 'living modified organism', defined in the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which regulates international trade in living GMOs (specifically, "any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology").