Index >> Biotechnology in Agriculture >> Gene Protection Technology

This technology named as 'Terminator Technology' or IT by opponents of biotechnology has been designed to produce seed that go sterile after one sowing. Although the technical aspects of TT are far from being clear, some facts have emerged in broad principles which can be stated as follows:

It is now known that each gene casette has its own promoter close to it to regulate the expression of the gene. This promoter can be manipu­lated by regulatory proteins to switch on or off the gene under its control, often acting also as a signal for a chemical like an antibiotic to prime the switch. One example of such regulatory genes is the repressor gene. If a repressor binds to a region near the promotor of a gene, it can stop the gene from being expressed into its protein.

To switch on the RIP gene, a recombinase gene is introduced that codes for a protein which knocks off the buffer piece of DNA with the result the RIP and LEA come closer for action. This action can be delayed by introducing a third gene that produces a repressor protein which has the ability to block the function of the recombinase gene. This blocking can be undone by spraying tetracycline, an antibiotic; otherwise, the seed is bound to have a live embryo and hence can germinate. On the otherhand if the antibiotic is sprayed before the seed reaches the farmer, the repressor gets set in the off position and hence no repressor protein is produced.