What defines a genetically engineered plant?

A genetically engineered plant is defined as one that has been altered through modern biotechnology. This involves the direct manipulation of the plant's genetic material—DNA—in a laboratory setting. Techniques such as gene editing, transgenic modification, and other biotechnological methods allow scientists to introduce new traits into plants or modify existing genes to enhance certain characteristics, such as resistance to pests, improved nutrition, or environmental adaptability. This aspect of modern biotechnology is what distinguishes genetically engineered plants from those that undergo traditional breeding or natural processes.

In contrast, plants altered through natural recombination occur without human intervention and do not involve the specific techniques of biotechnology. A plant grown in a controlled environment pertains to the conditions under which plants are cultivated, rather than how their genetic makeup is modified. Additionally, hybridization through traditional methods involves crossing two different plant varieties to produce a new one but does not involve the direct manipulation of genetic material in the laboratory. Thus, modern biotechnology is central to the definition of genetically engineered plants.