Any organism, plant or animal, in which a foreign deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) gene (a transgene) has been incorporated into its genome early in embryonic development. Under these circumstances the transgene is in both somatic (body) and germ cells and is inherited by offspring. In agriculture, for example, a transgenic soybean was developed in which the transgene was taken from a Brazil nut in order to increase the nutritional value of the soybean. Patients known to be allergic to Brazil nuts were tested for allergy to the transgenic soybeans, and were found to react as though they were tested against the Brazil nuts themselves, indicating the ability of genetic engineering to transfer an allergen.
An organism into which hereditary material from another organism has been introduced.