Terminator Gene Ban Suggested in Canada

innocent_white_lamb writes "A member of the Canadian Parliament has proposed legislation to outlaw the development and deployment of 'terminator genes' that would prevent seeds from germinating after a set span of time. This practice would require farmers to re-purchase seed every year instead of saving the seeds from last year's crop. The legislation is not expected to pass due to opposition from the Agriculture Minister. 'There is also an issue with the technology, which is based on a complicated five-gene construct. It is "inevitable" it will fail and could harm biodiversity, said Lucy Sharratt, co-ordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, which backs the ban. CFIA argues exactly the opposite, saying "the terminator approach provides an excellent method to protect against transference of novel traits to other crops and plant species."'"

Comments

scary stuff

[BroadbandBradley]

who knows what modified genes may spread into other plants and animals? this is scary to think we might eat these crops and become sterile.

Re:Doesn't sound like such a good idea.

[mulvane]

Well, adaption and mutation go hand in hand. There is nothing to say a animal species could not adapt a similar trait that in time could kill off its existence.