Conceivably, any gene from any organism can be moved into any other organism. These processes create some risks.
Ecological systems are extremely complex.
For example, changes in the invisible plankton in the sea can affect fish, and therefore affect humans. Likewise, the introduction of a genetically engineered organism in a particular ecosystem can have unforseen impacts on various species in that ecosystem Even when controlled experiments are concluded successfully, there is no guarantee that the novel organism will not create a problem in a different ecological setting. Genetic engineering is unique among all of the major technologies that have been unleashed on society. Unlike the nuclear power industry or the pesticide industry, where major social problems occurred before the industries were regulated, there have been no disasters as yet from genetic engineering. However, the potential risks are so significant that efforts are emerging now to regulate the development and use of biotechnology at the international, national and state levels.