麻豆传媒

Opponents of genetic modification claimed this week that a company plans to
use British fields to test 鈥渢erminator technology鈥�. This is a way to stop plants
from reproducing unless farmers apply special chemicals to switch on key genes.
Swiss-based Syngenta agreed to honour a promise made by its predecessor, Zeneca,
not to develop such a technology. Now it has applied for permission to run an
experiment in oilseed rape fields in Berkshire, to see if ethanol can alter gene
expression. Marcus Williamson, who edits an anti-GM website, claims Syngenta is
planning to test terminator technology. The company denies this. It says it鈥檚
aiming to see if chemicals can temporarily switch on genes for traits other than
reproduction.