Question

Analyse the statement: cry IAb is introduced in a plant to prevent infestation by corn borer.

Answer 1

The soil bacterium Bacillus thuringenesis produces the protein that kills certain insect-like lepidopterans, coleopterans etc. The choice of this depends upon the crop and targeted pest.

The Bt toxin is insect group specific. That protoxin is coded by a gene named cry.

There are two cry genes namely cryIAc and cryIAb. This was incorporated in cotton and forms genetically modified crop which is called Bt Cotton.

This Bt gene causes the formation of the toxin that leads to a pore formation in the gut of the insects and causes their death.

This cryIAc gene is then introduced in the corn to protect it from corn borer.