``Scientists are fully aware of the potential risks of the terminator gene technology and are examining various issues involved,'' Dr Manju Sharma, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), said.

``Gene probes to detect the lethal gene are easy to develop,'' Dr Deepak Pental of Delhi University said. The technology, developed and patented by the US firm Delta and Pineland (which has been acquired by Monsanto) has stirred a controversy because it genetically modifies a plant to prevent its seeds from germinating.

This effectively means that farmers cannot save part of the harvest seed for sowing in the next season, as it is traditionally done, but need to buy fresh seeds from the company each season.

Terry Bunn, a Monsanto official in India, said what has been patented is only a concept of a terminator gene that can cause seed sterility. Actual commercial production of cotton and tobacco with terminator gene is expected in the US only after 2002.

``India is free to enact any law to stop entry of plants with such genes,'' Bunn added. Meanwhile, following a meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in May this year, the Directorate of Plant Protection for Quarantine and Storage issued a memorandum on May 25 banning the import of any seed material containing the terminator gene.

The memorandum also said import-issuing authorities should request importers to get additional declaration from official phytosanitary certificate that the imported seeds are free from the terminator gene.

Following the memorandum, 18 Plant Quarantine Stations across the country as well as the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) have been instructed not to permit entry of plants with the lethal technology.

``The Ministry of Agriculture is deliberating over a ban on terminator seeds, and examining various aspects of inclusion of a clause not permitting entry of plant material with terminator seed technology either through the Plant Quarantine Act or Seed Act,'' officials said.

``Opinions of the DBT, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, and Delhi University and other organisations working on transgenics are being sought before a final decision is taken,'' they said.

Several scientists and Non Government Organisations at home and abroad, however, fear the technology may be extended to self-pollinating crops that include important cereals such as rice, wheat and maize.

They also fear that pollen from crops with terminator seed technology may drift to normal plants and accidental gene transfer may take place through cross pollination.

But according to A K Singh, a senior geneticist from IARI, pollen viability ranges from a few minutes to few hours, and theoretically chances of terminator pollen pollinating normal plants is only 25 per cent. Singh, who presented a talk on terminator gene at IARI recently, cautioned against unwarranted ``panic'' and ``emotional outbursts'' on the issue, pointing out that the technology can help maintain pure line varieties which are needed in rice wheat, pulses and oilseeds. ``It also helps protect hybrids and transgenics from piracy,'' he said.