Question

Crystals of Bt. toxin produced by some bacteria do not kill the bacteria themselves because

• A. Bacteria are resistant to the toxin
• B. Toxin is immature
• C. Toxin is inactive
• D. Bacteria enclose the toxin in special sac

Answer 1

The correct option is C Toxin is inactive

Bt toxin is produced by bacteria Bacillus thuriengiensis. Bt toxin does not kill the bacterium that produces it, but kill the insect that ingest it because the endotoxin that accumulates in the bacterium is an inactive precursor. It gets activated only in the alkaline gut of insect.

So, option C is the correct option.