Scientists have recently modified the bacteria that cause tooth decay by inserting a fragment of DNA into the bacteria's DNA that prevents it from producing lactic acid. What is this process called?

Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of an organism’s DNA to give it a desired trait. Here, scientists inserted a DNA fragment into the bacteria so they no longer produce lactic acid, so this is genetic engineering. A biological vector is a carrier used to transfer DNA, electrophoresis separates molecules, and a mechanical vector is unrelated to this DNA modification.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.