Arden is making a pros and cons list about genetic engineering for a debate at school. Which part of her list is incorrect?

Pros Cons

Pro 1: Can be used to make medicine Con 1: Genetically modified organisms can affect the environment around them Pro 2: Can create organisms that survive in different environments Con 2: The edited gene is more likely to mutate and cause disease

Pro 1 Pro 2 Con 1 Con 2

Con 2

Explanation:

The part of Arden's list that is incorrect would be con 2, that edited gene is more likely to mutate and cause disease.

Genetic engineering is the science of modifying the gene of organisms through the process of biotechnology in order to serve specific needs.

Genetic engineering has a wide variety of applications, including the production of vaccines and drugs in medicine and improved breeds of organisms in agriculture.

However, genetically modified organisms sometimes present ecological and or genetic problems. They can alter the dynamics of population in the environments where they are introduced, affect gene flow, and affect biogeochemistry of the environment.

Edited genes in genetically modified organisms have the same chances of mutation just like every other gene. That a gene is edited does not make it more likely to mutate and cause disease.