Within biology, a strain refers to a distinct variant or subtype of an organism. For example, flu strains refer to the different subtypes of the Influenza virus. Different flu strains have different mutations or changes in their DNA and may cause different symptoms when they infect a human. Strains can be naturally occurring or artificially created through techniques like selective breeding or genetic engineeringGenetic engineering is a broad term that refers to the manipulation of an organism’s genetic (DNA). Strain engineers are responsible for genetically modifying bacteria and creating these strains to carry out a specific function, such as the production of a target protein. Different strains of organism, such as bacteria, can also be chosen for different purposes based on their natural characteristics, rather than being genetically modified.
