vWhat do ‘cry’ genes in Bacillus thuringiensis code for ? State its
importance for cotton crop.
The cry genes in the Bacillus thuringiensis code for a crystal protein that is an inactive form of toxin. This inactivated toxin gets activated in the gut of insect due to alkaline pH.
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Inactivated toxin
Activated toxin (gut of insect) -
Activated toxin binds to the epithelial cells in the midgut of insect and creates pores that cause lyses and swelling and eventually death of insect.
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Cry genes are introduced into the cotton plants to produce Bt cotton, which is an insect resistant variety of cotton.