Thale cress is a plant that is genetically engineered with genes that break down toxic materials. The type of organism described here is known as **transgenic**.
Explanation:
1. **Transgenic** organisms are those that have had foreign genes inserted into their genetic makeup through genetic engineering techniques.
2. In this case, the Thale cress plant has been modified with genes that enable it to break down toxic substances, which demonstrates the process of genetic engineering to confer specific traits or capabilities to an organism.
3. This genetic modification allows the plant to perform a function that it would not naturally possess, highlighting the potential benefits of DNA technology in creating organisms with desired characteristics or abilities.