Redistributed as a Service of the National Library for the
Environment* The 'Terminator Gene" and Other Genetic Use
Restriction Technologies (GURTs) in Crops Alejandro E. Segarra
Jean M. Rawson Specialist in Agricultural Updated October 21,
1999 Plant Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs) are a
group of complex genetic transformations that insert a genetic
"on-off switch" in plants to prevent the unauthorized use of
genetic traits contained within. GURTs are one of the latest
bioengineering products developed for agriculture, with over 30
patents issued in the United States and Europe since 1997. The
current state of biotechnology may allow GURTs to be introduced
into the commercial seed market in the next 5 to 7 years.
Controversy over GURTs first arose in 1998 when the U.S.
Department of Agriculture and Delta & Pine Land Company received
a U.S. patent for the rights to use a new genetic process which
blocks the production of fertile seeds in genetically engineered
plants. Detractors dubbed this utili