Zaymiey

🔬 Biology  ·  Biotechnology and its Applications  ·  NEET

Bt cotton carries cry genes but is not harmful to the plant that makes the toxin. Why does the Cry protein not kill the plant itself?

Answer: It exists as an inactive protoxin until activated in the insect gut.

  • A The plant rapidly destroys the Cry protein before it can act
  • B It is stored only in the seeds
  • C The plant lacks ribosomes to make it
  • D It exists as an inactive protoxin until activated in the insect gut

Correct answer: D. It exists as an inactive protoxin until activated in the insect gut

Explanation: The Cry protein is produced as an inactive protoxin; it is converted to the active toxin only in the alkaline pH of the insect gut, so it does not harm the plant.

Concept context

GM crops, transgenic animals, gene therapy, molecular diagnostics, and bioethics. Frequent 2–3 mark questions in NEET.

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