October 5, 1999

Monsanto Co, lightning rod for furor over so-called 'Terminator' technology that uses genetic modifications to create plants able to resist insect pests and weed killers, seeks to remove itself from inflamed debate over biotechnology; will make no further efforts to market seeds that produce crop plants that are infertile; critics say genetic modification represents drive by agribusiness to make farmers dependent on them and chemicals many of them use; note seeds from engineered crops cannot be replanted, forcing farmers to buy new seeds year after year, rather than saving seeds from normal crops for replanting following spring; suggest pollen from engineered crops could render plants in neighbors' fields sterile without farmers realizing it; hail company's decision (M)

Pres Clinton begins intense weeklong campaign to persuade Republican-controlled Senate to embrace Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty banning testing of nuclear weapons, one of his top foreign policy goals, but acknowledges he lacks votes for passage; meets with top national security advisers in first of string of public events in support of treaty; says Senate decision will be crucial since it will affect welfare of American people well into next century; urges Americans to pay close attention; says since nuclear tests are no longer needed, it is strongly in US interest to achieve agreements preventing other countries from testing and deploying weapons; proponents say treaty, which has support of more than 150 other nations, will deter further development and refining of nuclear weapons; opponents say it will mainly serve to tie hands of US; argue that its provisions cannot be adequately verified; US stopped nuclear testing in 1992 and maintains weapons through sophisticated computer models; photo (M)

Natalie Angier says the body parts and body products presented as art works in Sensation exhibition at Brooklyn Museum of Art may be shocking by today's standards, they are tame when compared with biological displays and grotesqueries of the past; says Catholicism, the religion that some of its spokesmen say is the most offended by the new exhibition, has a particularly intricate relationshp to the body and body parts as possible paths to salvation; photo (M)

Article profiles career of Agustin Garcia, suspect in murder of his former girlfriend Gladys Ricart on day of her wedding to another man; Garcia, immigrant from Dominican Republic, was successful businessman and president of local Washington Heights chamber of commerce who was active politically in Dominican community; photo (M)

Article discusses fan reaction to New York Mets winning National League wild card playoff berth; photo (M)