The American multinational company, Monsanto has produced an insect-resistant cotton variety that is undergoing field- trails in India. A toxin gene from which ONE of the following bacteria has been transferred to this transgenic cotton ?

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Q: 130 (IAS/2001)
The American multinational company, Monsanto has produced an insect-resistant cotton variety that is undergoing field- trails in India. A toxin gene from which ONE of the following bacteria has been transferred to this transgenic cotton ?

question_subject: 

Current Affairs

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,47,16,8,47,5,3

keywords: 

{'transgenic cotton': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'bacillus subtilis': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'bacillus globlii': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'bacillus': [1, 0, 0, 0], 'resistant cotton variety': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'monsanto': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'bacillus thurigiensis': [1, 0, 1, 0], 'toxin gene': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'bacteria': [4, 1, 2, 3], 'insect': [2, 0, 1, 0], 'american multinational company': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'india': [8, 1, 7, 13]}

The toxin gene that has been transferred to the transgenic cotton variety produced by Monsanto is from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

Bacillus thuringiensis is a soil-dwelling bacterium that produces a protein toxin known as Bt toxin. This toxin is toxic to certain insect pests, specifically caterpillars and larvae of various insect species. The Bt toxin acts by binding to specific receptors in the digestive system of susceptible insects, causing cell lysis and ultimately leading to their death.

By transferring the Bt toxin gene into the cotton plants, Monsanto`s transgenic cotton variety gains the ability to produce this toxin and confer resistance against specific insect pests, particularly those that are susceptible to the Bt toxin. This insect-resistant cotton variety helps reduce the need for chemical insecticides and provides an alternative approach for managing insect pests in cotton farming.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).