To "modify genetically" means to mutate or change the chemistry of something. You are changing something's genetic structure by adding a substance or condition that creates that change, like turning on a light completely changes a dark room. You can change bacteria -- or allow it to change itself, which happens more frequently than people previously thought -- in several ways.

Bacteria can become a "living biosensor," finding chemicals in patches of soil that are exposed to ultraviolet light. This causes some bacteria to glow green. A study in microbial genomics by the U.S. Department of Energy discovered this reaction as it used bacteria to leech the TNT elements out of land mines in a war zone. These USDE researchers concluded that different bacteria could be developed to react to different substances. They imagine a time when bacteria can be sprayed on patches of land and then analyzed for traces of valuable chemicals and other sought-after elements.

The International Journal of Pharma Sciences and Research reported on studies where researchers at the Department of Biotechnology in India's Acharya Nagarjuna University altered bacteria with chemicals such as ethyl methane sulfonate and ethidium bromide. This strengthened the bacteria's host -- called fibrinolytic protease, a substance that builds up the body's resistance to disease. In the case of patients who need to be stabilized for surgery, the mutated bacteria improved the production of their blood platelets. As discussed in Pubmed.gov, India's Vel Tech Multi Tech Engineering College's research team "bombed" bacteria onto mushrooms -- ganoderma lucidum -- that had medicinal properties, and this improved the mushrooms' ability to protect laboratory mice from symptoms of thrombosis.

Not all bacterial genetic changes are positive. Bombarding bacteria with radiation such as gamma rays can be harmful both to the bacteria strain and its DNA. Damage to bacterial DNA can change the properties of a bacterium, including its rate of growth, its system of feeding and its level of infection. It can even drive bacteria to seek a different host to grow in. All these reactions are desirable only if you want to wipe out a particularly destructive disease; for healthy and necessary bacteria, radiation is dangerously damaging.

Why modify bacteria genetically? It's the best way to persuade nature to produce bacteria on its own. This can create vaccines for previously incurable diseases, fuel efficient gasoline blends for better mileage and medications that resist disease. Nature does most of the changing for us; all we do is reap the benefits of these natural and helpful bacteria.