Selective breeding

CRISPR gene editing

Cloning

DNA fingerprinting

To alter traits in offspring

To identify genetic variants linked to traits or disease

To clone organisms

To increase growth rate in crops

Gene therapy

Cloning

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

DNA sequencing

CRISPR editing of embryos

Selective breeding of plants

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

Whole-genome sequencing

Diagnose inherited traits in a family

Replace or fix a faulty gene to treat a disease

Produce identical clones of animals

Increase crop yield without changing DNA

The change may be passed to future generations

The mutation will only affect the treated individual and not be inherited

The organism will become a clone

DNA sequencing is no longer possible

GM traits cannot move between species

Gene flow through cross-pollination can introduce GM traits into wild populations

Wild relatives always reject GM pollen

GM crops make wild plants sterile immediately

DNA sequencing and genome analysis

Traditional cloning

Simple microscopy

Manual selection without testing

That they will reduce the ability to sequence DNA

Equity and access, plus unintended long-term effects on the human gene pool

That organisms will become immune to editing

That selective breeding will no longer work