Question

What is the function of a terminator gene?
(a) Help in terminating flowering
(b) Help in terminating seed germination
(c) Used in hybridisation
(d) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The terminator gene is a specific genetic sequence inserted by scientists into a crop. They produce sterile. The company initiates the terminator process before selling.

Complete answer: The technology in the patent could be applied in a number of ways. But in general, it involves three steps are: 1. Scientists add terminator genes to a crop. 2. The seed company starts the terminator process before selling the seeds by attaching an inducer. 3. Farmers plant seeds which grow and harvest mature, but produce sterile seeds. Poor farmers are mostly scared at the possibilities of seed markets dominated by multinational corporations selling sterile seeds. They fear increased seed costs and loss of control over their own food supplies.
In India, for instance, concern about the terminator technology and other applications of gene-splicing led farmers to uproot and burn genetically engineered Bt cotton. The intensity of the reaction is predicated partially on the misunderstanding that the terminator is already in commercial crops. Although its implementation remains some years away, the reaction is a sign of the likely response to the terminator when it's ready.
So, the correct answer is ‘Help in terminating seed germination’.

Note: The technology's success depends on a cleverly controlled sequence of interactions among the spliced-in genes. The last engineered gene comes into play very late in seed development when a special switch under the control of the inducer activates the gene causing it to supply toxin. The toxin kills the embryo that's a part of each mature seed.