Terminator Gene Could Hold Value

Terminator Gene Could Hold Value

EDINBURGH, Scotland--Delegates at the Organization for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment's (OECD) genetically modified food safety conference considered a draft set ofconclusions that note the beneficial qualities of the so-called "terminator"gene for genetic containment. Such a gene could render a genetically modified plantsterile and address environmentalists' concerns that any potential negative qualities ofGM crops could proliferate if farmers grow them in open fields. "There appears to bebroad consensus to look at banning sterile seed technologies," read the draft."However, the use of terminator genes for the purpose of genetic containment waswidely acknowledged as a useful safety measure." While the technology to createterminator genes is several years away, Monsanto Co. planned to use it earlier, but backeddown last year after the concept fueled negative publicity for the company.