Bt Corn Case Study Bacillus thuringiensis, more commonly known as Bt, is a type of soil bacterium that naturally occurs in nature and which produces insecticidal toxins. There are several species of insects to which the Bt endotoxin is deadly. When one of these pests tries to digest part of a plant with the protein Bt delta endotoxin in it, the insect’s digestion system becomes paralyzed and eventually kills the bug. Many crops, including corn, have been genetically modified to include the
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activity of Kenyan Bt isolates against the spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus Kimani1,2 G, Nyambaka2 H, Gichuki1, S, Amata1, R, M. Okomo1 and Kasina1 M 1 Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, NARL. P.O. Box 14733-00800 Nairobi 2 Chemistry Department, Kenyatta University, Correspondence: kasina.j@gmail.com 2 Abstract The delta – endotoxin crystals containing insecticidal Cry proteins were isolated from 20 unidentified local Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) isolates and a
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What is Bt-corn? Bt-corn is a type of genetically modified organism (GMO). A GMO is a plant or animal that has been genetically modified by taking a small amount genetic material from other organisms and implanting it into the plant or animal that is being targeted for modification. GMOs that are currently produced possess derived protections from genetic modification that may include protection from pests, tolerance to pesticides, and may also have been modified to increase yield. To convert
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plant that is resistant to insect pests b. Edible corn byproducts c. An insect pest that reduces corn yield d. European corn borer e. c and d 2. How many days are required for a corn seed to become a mature plant with maximum weight kernels ready to be harvested? e. about 23 f. about 65 c. about 140 d. about 180 3. “BT Corn” refers to corn that: a. Has been infested with insect pests b. Has been infected
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transgenic Bt corn, for example, which produces its own insecticide, contains a gene from a bacterium. Plants containing transgenes are often called genetically modified or GM crops, although in reality all crops have been genetically modified from their original wild state by domestication, selection and controlled breeding over long periods of time. On this web site we will use the term transgenic to describe a crop plant which has transgenes inserted. Image:Results of insect infestation on Bt (right)
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billion due to the notorious and damaging pest insect known as the European Corn Borer. The pest is more than a nuisance, introduced into the US and Canada in the early 1920s. The larva eat their way into corn stalks and create a silk tunnel that weakens the structural integrity of the corn plant and may cause a predisposition to dangerous pathogens. (Krupke) The infamous Corn Bearer is finally thwarted in the year 1996 with the introduction of the Bt Corn plant. Bt Corn is a genetically modified organism
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Genetically Modified Disease and Pest Resistant Crops Ethan Peart Ajax High School Genetically Modified Disease and Pest Resistant Crops Crops are attacked by pests and disease all around the world, farmers expect to lose a certain percentage of their crops every year. This problem has led to the scientific pursuit of crops that are naturally resistant to pests and disease, farmers work to make their crops resistant to plant disease and pests through genetic modification
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Twelve reasons for Africa to reject GM crops Zachary Makanya | 25 July 2004 Zachary Makanya Africa is in danger of becoming the dumping ground for the struggling GM industry and the laboratory for frustrated scientists. The proponents of GM technology sell a sweet message of GM crops bringing the second green revolution and the answer to African hunger, but a closer look makes it clear that GM crops have no place in African agriculture. The push to bring genetically modified (GM) crops
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GMO MYTHS AND TRUTHS An evidence-based examination of the claims made for the safety and efficacy of genetically modified crops Michael Antoniou Claire Robinson John Fagan June 2012 GMO Myths and Truths An evidence-based examination of the claims made for the safety and efficacy of genetically modified crops Version 1.3 by Michael Antoniou Claire Robinson John Fagan © Earth Open Source www.earthopensource.org 2nd Floor 145–157, St John Street, London EC1V 4PY, United Kingdom Contact email:
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For example, insect-resistant transgenic plants have been engineered, such as BT-Corn. BT-corn is a type of genetically modified organism (GMO). A GMO is a plant or animal that has been genetically modified through the addition of a small amount of genetic material from other organisms through molecular techniques. Currently, the GMOs on the market today have been given genetic traits to provide protection from pests, tolerance to pesticides, or to improve its quality. To transform a plant into
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