Question

Which of the following statements are true regarding Bt cotton?

1. It is the only genetically modified crop allowed in India.
2. It contains genes from a soil bacterium that produce a protein toxic to certain pests.
3. It is a genetically modified crop with a gene that allows it to resist attacks from bollworm

• A. i only
• B. All of these
• C. ii, iii
• D. ii only

Answer 1

Answer:

B. All of these

Bt cotton

• It is a genetically modified variety of cotton that has been altered to incorporate certain genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
• These inserted genes allow the cotton plant to produce proteins that are toxic to certain insect pests, particularly the bollworm, which is a common pest affecting cotton crops.
• The toxic protein produced by Bt cotton helps in reducing the damage caused by these pests, thereby decreasing the need for chemical insecticides and promoting a more environmentally friendly approach to pest management in cotton farming.
• Bt cotton was first approved for commercial use in the United States in 1995.
• Bt cotton is the only Genetically Modified (GM) crop that is allowed in India.
• In 2011, India grew the largest GM cotton crop at 10.6 million hectares.