（也称基因工程、分子生物学技术或克隆）纯化、处理和使用遗传材料的技术总和。这些技术主要基于对从细菌和动物细胞里纯化出的酶的使用，使得DNA复制、转化为RNA、转译为蛋白质都可以在实验室完成。这些步骤包括在DNA特异位点切割，连接和切断DNA片段和很多其它修饰直至对单个碱基对的处理。这些技术使得DNA的处理、在细菌和酵母体内将这些基因通过表达转化成蛋白质、病毒生物工程、转基因动物和灭活属等生物工程产物、基于DNA的法庭诊断测试的发展成为可能。

(Also known as genetic engineering, molecular biology technology or cloning.) The collection of techniques that allow the purification, manipulation and use of genetic material. These techniques are mostly based on the use of enzymes purified from bacteria and animal cells, that allow steps such as DNA copying (replication), conversion into RNA (transcription), and into protein (translation), to be recapitulated in the laboratory. These steps include specific cutting of DNA at defined sites, joining or splicing of DNA fragments, and numerous other modifications which allow manipulation down to the level of a single base pair. These techniques allow the manipulation of DNA; the conversion of these genes into protein by expression in biological vats such as bacteria, and yeast; the bioengineering of viruses; the production of engineered organisms such as transgenic animals and knockout mice; and the development of DNA-based forensic and diagnostic tests.