Final answer:
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are created by manipulating genes in a laboratory setting, using genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology to introduce desirable traits into an organism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are created by manipulating genes in a laboratory setting. The process of creating GMOs involves genetic engineering, which is the alteration of an organism's genotype using recombinant DNA technology to achieve desirable traits such as disease resistance, increased nutritional value, herbicide and pesticide resistance, or better shelf-life. This method typically includes the addition of foreign DNA in the form of recombinant DNA vectors generated by molecular cloning.
One classic example of a GMO is herbicide-resistant soybeans, which have been modified to withstand certain herbicides, allowing farmers to control weeds without damaging the crop. Other examples include Bt corn, which has a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to protect against certain insects, and golden rice, which has been engineered to produce beta-carotene.