Final answer:
Genetic engineering is the process of altering an organism's DNA by adding foreign DNA to create completely new organisms. This is done using recombinant DNA technology to achieve desirable traits. Bacteria, plants, and animals have been genetically modified since the 1970s for various purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic engineering is the process of altering an organism's DNA by adding artificial bits or bits of DNA from other organisms to create completely new organisms. This is done using recombinant DNA technology, where foreign DNA is inserted into an organism's DNA to achieve desirable traits. The organism that receives the foreign DNA is called a genetically modified organism (GMO). Bacteria, plants, and animals have been genetically modified since the 1970s for various purposes, such as academic research, medicine, agriculture, and industry.