Question

Indian farmers are unhappy over the introduction of ;Terminator Seed Technology' because the seeds produced by this technology are expected to

• A. Give rise to sexually sterile plants
• B. Form low-yielding plants despite the high quality
• C. Show poor germination
• D. Give rise to the plants incapable of forming viable seeds

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Give rise to sexually sterile plants

Terminator gene technology refers to plants that have been genetically modified to render sterile seeds at harvest, it is also called Genetic Use Restriction Technology or GURT. Terminator technology was developed by the multinational seed / agrochemical industry and the united-states govt. to prevent farmers from saving and replanting harvested seed. The terminator gene technology, or genetic use restriction technology (GURT), is the genetic modification of plants to make them produce sterile seeds in second generation which is also famous as a “suicide seeds”. Terminator alters the expression of certain genes in plants so that plants terminate their reproductive switch, about the embryo and make themselves sterile. Such plants then produce seed that cannot germinate. This technology was patented by U.S. Department of Agriculture and the seed company, Delta and Pine Land Company – a subsidiary of the seeds and agrochemical multinational Monsanto/American Home products.

So the correct option is 'give rise to sexually sterile plants'.