Transgenní

Transgenní, or transgenic, refers to organisms that carry genetic material introduced from another species or from a different lineage, resulting in heritable traits not found in their natural genome. The term is widely used in genetics and biotechnology to describe organisms created through recombinant DNA techniques or other methods that incorporate transgenes into the genome. In Czech and other languages, transgenní is the common term for this concept.

Transgenic organisms are produced by various methods, including insertion of foreign genes via plasmids, Agrobacterium-mediated transfer in plants, biolistic delivery (gene gun), microinjection, or viral vectors. Advances in genome editing have blurred boundaries: some edits result in stable transgene integration, while others modify genes without adding foreign DNA. In some jurisdictions, organisms that have been edited and do not retain foreign DNA may not be classified as transgenic.

Applications of transgenics span agriculture, medicine, industry, and research. In agriculture, transgenic crops may express pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, or improved nutritional profiles. In medicine and industry, transgenic microorganisms produce insulin, hormones, enzymes, or therapeutic proteins. In research, transgenic animals and plants serve as models to study gene function, development, and disease processes.

Safety and regulation focus on environmental impact, food safety, and unintended effects. Biosafety frameworks assess potential gene flow, ecosystem interactions, and allergenicity or toxicity. Regulatory approaches vary by country, with some requiring comprehensive risk assessments and product labeling, while others have more permissive regimes. Detection and traceability rely on molecular characterization of the inserted DNA and transgenic traits.

Ethical and social discussions include concerns about biodiversity, corporate control of seed and biotechnologies, patenting, and consumer transparency, balanced against potential benefits in agriculture, medicine, and scientific knowledge.