Can somebody help explain the use of being in this question?
The answer is D.


Simply because they are genetically engineered does not make it any more likely for plants to
become an invasive or persistent weed, according to a decade-long study published in the journal
Nature.

(A) because they are genetically engineered does not make it any more likely for plants to
(B) because it is genetically engineered does not make a plant any more likely to
(C) being genetically engineered does not make it any more likely that plants will
(D) being genetically engineered does not make a plant any more likely to
(E) being genetically engineered does not make a plant any more likely that it will become