transgenic

1 of 2

adjective

trans·​gen·​ic tran(t)s-ˈje-nik 

: being or used to produce an organism or cell of one species into which one or more genes of another species have been incorporated

a transgenic mouse

transgenic crops

also : produced by or consisting of transgenic plants or animals

transgenic

2 of 2

noun

1

transgenics plural in form but singular in construction : a branch of biotechnology concerned with the production of transgenic plants, animals, and foods

2

: a transgenic plant or animal

Examples of transgenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The transgenic fish are also sterile and can’t reproduce unless they are injected with reproductive hormones, the researchers said in their scientific paper published online at bioRxiv. —al, 5 Feb. 2023

Settling on the relatively broad and ominous term genetically modified, rather than recombinant or transgenic, left the door wide open to interpretation. —Sarah Garland, The New Republic, 5 Oct. 2021

Noun

Sea urchins made to order: Scripps scientists make transgenic breakthrough. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024

The animals are the first transgenic echinoderms, the phylum that includes starfish, sea cucumbers and other marine animals. —Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1982, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1986, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

transgenic

1 of 2 adjective

trans·​gen·​ic ˌtran(t)s-ˈjen-ik, ˌtranz- 

: being or used to produce an organism or cell of one species into which one or more genes of other species have been incorporated

transgenic mice

transgenic corn plants

transgenic techniques

also : produced by or composed of transgenic plants or animals

transgenic foods

transgenic

2 of 2 noun

1

: a transgenic plant or animal

2

transgenics plural in form but singular in construction : a branch of biotechnology concerned with the production of transgenic plants, animals, and foods