Question

What do you understand by Bt? Explain by giving an example of Bt-cotton.

Hint:

Bt-cotton helps reduce pesticide use by providing natural resistance to pests.

Answer 1

Step 1: What is Bt?
Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium that produces proteins toxic to certain insects. These proteins are used as a biological pesticide.
Step 2: Bt-cotton.
Bt-cotton is a genetically modified cotton plant that has been engineered to include the gene from Bacillus thuringiensis. This gene allows the plant to produce a protein toxic to certain pests, particularly the cotton bollworm.
Step 3: How It Works.
1. Pest Resistance: The cotton plant produces a toxin that is harmful to specific insect pests but harmless to humans, animals, and other beneficial insects. 2. Reduced Pesticide Use: By using Bt-cotton, farmers reduce the need for chemical pesticides, which helps lower environmental impact and reduces costs.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Bt-cotton is an example of genetic engineering in agriculture that provides a natural defense against pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{Bt refers to a bacterium that produces insecticidal proteins, and Bt-cotton is genetically modified to produce these proteins for pest control.}} \]