The 'platform worm' was bred (not altered directly) artificially to create a base worm genome that was efficiently edited. This was done by ensuring consistency in genes such that when KBLB made an insertion, the results were more predictable and consistent between individuals. We always edit starting from a platform worm so that we know what genomic background we're starting with.
Mutations as a rule are accidental and almost never occur
In nature, you're quite right. If our DNA mutated too quickly, life could not persist. If DNA never mutated, life could not evolve. The rates we see today bridge the gap between the cost of damaging mutations and the benefit of the very rare positive mutations.
In the lab, mutations need not be random as we have mechanisms to directly mutate specific bases. There are random methods (use radiation or chemical baths) or directional methods (edit specific DNA bases).
After the spider silk DNA insertion, our worms are simply affected by the natural, very slow mutation rate that all living things deal with. KBLB scientists almost certainly do regular genetic screening to cull mutants. That's the benefit of freezing eggs. It's very easy to have consistent genetics.
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