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10.Biotechnology and its Application
medium
What is meant by the term bio-pesticide ? Name and explain the mode of action of a popular biopesticide.
Option A
Option B
Option C
Option D
Solution
Biopesticide is a pesticide which is $(a)$ not chemical in nature $(b)$ more specific in action against the pest $(c)$ safer for environment than chemical pesticides
A popularly known bio-pesticide is $Bt$ toxin, which is produced by a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis. $Bt$ toxin gene has been cloned from this bacterium and expressed in plants. $Bt$ toxin protein when ingested by the insect, gets converted to its active form due to the alkaline $\mathrm{pH}$ of the gut. The activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells and create pores that cause cell swelling and lysis and eventually kills the insect.
Standard 12
Biology