How is genetic engineering best described?

Genetic engineering is best described as manipulating DNA molecules to alter their composition. This process involves various techniques that allow scientists to add, remove, or modify specific genes within an organism's genome. By altering the genetic material, researchers can produce desired traits, enhance resistance to diseases, or improve overall functions of the organism.

The focus of genetic engineering lies primarily in working at the molecular level, which distinguishes it from simply exchanging genes between species or creating entirely new species. These actions may be results of genetic engineering but do not encapsulate the full breadth of what genetic engineering entails. Cloning, on the other hand, involves creating exact replicas of organisms and does not typically involve altering the genetic makeup in the same way that genetic engineering does. Thus, the core definition revolves around the manipulation of DNA rather than merely exchanging or duplicating genetic material.