Final answer:
A transgenic crop contains modified genetic information and specifies an altered gene product, achieved through genetic engineering to introduce traits like pest resistance or improved nutrition, making it a type of genetically modified organism.
Step-by-step explanation:
A transgenic crop contains modified genetic information and often specifies an altered gene product. This alteration is done through genetic engineering, which is the process of artificially changing the genome of an organism using molecular biotechnology. A transgenic crop has been genetically modified with new genes that code for traits that are useful to humans, such as resistance to pests, tolerance to herbicides, or improved nutritional content. For instance, certain transgenic crops might contain a gene from a bacterium that produces an organic insecticide, making the crop resistant to specific pests without the need for external chemical pesticides.
These crops are a type of genetically modified organism (GMO), which are organisms whose genomes have been altered in a way that does not occur naturally through mating or natural recombination. The goal of creating GMOs, especially in the context of agriculture, is often to enhance food productivity and address challenges such as food security.