Question

define bt cotton and its usese

Answer 1

Bt cotton has been genetically modified by the insertion of one or more genes from a common soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis. These genes encode for the production of insecticidal proteins, and thus, genetically transformed plants produce one or more toxins as they grow.

Answer 2

Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis - a soil bacterium which contains a toxic gene called Bt gene. The aim is to make the cotton crop resistant to bollworm. Hence through genetic engineering the gene is inserted into the cotton seed. Due to this the toxin will no more be harmful to the plant because bt gene now becomes a part of it just like other genes. Put simply, it gets adapted. Along with this, a gene responsible for high yield is chosen from another cotton variety and fused into the same seed. Finally you have a seed which is pest resistant and high yielding. Needless to say this seed grows into HYPR(High Yielding Pest Resistant) cotton crop which we popularly call Bt Cotton.