HORTICULTURE

Detailed explanation-1: -DNA technology makes it possible to locate the gene that produces Bt proteins lethal to insects and transfer the gene into crop plants. The process is depicted in Figure 1. First, scientists identify a strain of Bt that kills the targeted insect. Then they isolate the gene that produces the lethal protein.

Detailed explanation-2: -“Back in 1996, the commercial seed industry was able to incorporate genes from a soil-inhabiting bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, into some field corn. The corn then uses these genes to produce a toxin that kills the larvae of the European corn borer.”

Detailed explanation-3: -By inserting the Bt gene into the DNA of the corn plant, scientists gave it the insect-resistance trait. This new trait does not change the other existing traits. In the laboratory, scientists grow the new corn plant to ensure it has adopted the desired trait (insect resistance).

Detailed explanation-4: -Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a soil bacterium that produces insecticidal toxins. Genes from Bt can be inserted into crop plants to make them capable of producing an insecticidal toxins and therefore resistant to certain pests. Corn hybrids with one or more Bt genes (Bt corn) are resistant to some important pests.

Detailed explanation-5: -Genetic engineering of crops for insect resistance is the introduction of specific DNA sequences into crop plants to enhance their resistance to insect pests. The DNA sequences used usually encode proteins with insecticidal activity, so that in plants which contain introduced DNA, an insecticidal protein is present.