What are the reasons for the people's resistance to the introduction of Bt brinjal in India? 1) Bt brinjal has been created by inserting a gene from a soil fungus into its genome. 2) The seeds of Bt brinjal are terminator seeds and therefore, the farmers have to buy the seeds before every season from the seed companies. 3) There is an apprehension that the consumption of Bt brinjal may have adverse impact on health. 4) There is some concern that the introduction of Bt brinjal may have adverse effect on the biodiversity. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The correct answer is C (3 and 4 only). The objections to Bt brinjal centred on health and biodiversity, which is why the GEAC's 2009 approval was put under a moratorium in February 2010.

• Statement 1 is wrong. The Bt gene comes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, not a fungus. It produces the Cry1Ac protein that targets the fruit and shoot borer.
• Statement 2 is wrong. Bt brinjal was never a terminator seed. Terminator (GURT) technology makes seeds sterile and is not used in this crop. Farmers buying fresh hybrid seed each season is a separate commercial practice, not the objection.
• Statement 3 is right. Critics questioned the adequacy of long-term toxicity and allergenicity testing before human consumption.
• Statement 4 is right. Concerns included cross-pollination with wild and local brinjal varieties, and India being a centre of origin of brinjal.

Core concept: regulation of genetically modified crops under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the precautionary principle in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. This is a live Mains theme on GM crops and food security versus ecological safety. The moratorium remained in force as of my latest information.

Trap: aspirants see 'seed purchase' and 'Bt' and assume terminator technology, or mistake the bacterial source for a fungus.