How does GM work?

For the genetic modification of crops, a plant that has the desired characteristic is first identified. The specific gene that produces this characteristic is located and cut out of the plant's DNA. A piece of bacterial DNA, called a plasmid, is joined to the gene to act as the carrier that gets the gene into the cells of the plant being modified.

Furthermore, a 'promoter' is also included with the combined gene and plasmid. This helps make sure the gene works properly when it is put into the plant being modified. This gene package is then inserted into a bacterium, which is allowed to reproduce to create many copies of the gene package.
Finally, the gene packages are transferred into the plant being modified. The plant tissue that has taken up the gene packages is then grown into full-size GM plants.