Question

in case of the Bt cotton , how does the toxic pesticides protein produce by the bacteria kills the insects ,pest but not the cells of Bt ? where the toxic protein is generated?

Answer 1

Pesticide protein produced by the bacteria is known as a Bt toxin.

When it is produced by the bacteria it is in inactive form but when it is ingested by the pest it get converted into active form due to the alkaline pH of the gut.

After becoming active it binds to the surface of the gut epithelial cells that create pores in the cell which leads to the swelling and lysis of the cell and eventually result into the death of the pest.