What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news?

Gives a definition of GMOs and states that genetic modification involves inserting a foreign gene (transgene) into a plant to confer new traits.

A student can use this rule to ask whether Cas9 is used as a transgene or as a tool for editing those transgenes to assess if it would itself be described as conferring pest resistance.

Provides a concrete example where genes from a soil bacterium were introduced into GM mustard and those genes give the plant pest-resistance.

A student could compare the biological source and function of Cas9 with the example (bacterial gene conferring resistance) to judge plausibility that Cas9 might act similarly.

Explains the general principle that genes control characteristics or traits (e.g., enzyme efficiency affects plant height).

Use this principle to recognize that for Cas9 to 'make' pest resistance it would need to encode a trait-altering product or enable changes that produce such a trait.

Mentions 'genetic engineering' as removing/replacing specific genes with information from another organism and also refers to genetic control methods for pest management.

A student could consider whether Cas9 functions as the inserted trait or as a gene-editing tool used to alter other genes implicated in pest resistance.

States that artificial selection and hybridisation can create seeds that are disease- and pest-resistant, showing multiple genetic routes to resistance.

This suggests a student should distinguish between genes that directly encode resistance and techniques (or genes) used to create resistant varieties, and then see which category Cas9 fits.

States GM crops are said to be herbicide tolerant and that GM growth is associated with use of herbicides — introduces the common trait 'herbicide tolerance' rather than that GM plants produce herbicides themselves.

A student could use this to distinguish between (A) GM plants engineered to tolerate externally applied herbicides and (B) plants engineered to synthesize a herbicidal substance, and then check whether Cas9 fits either category.

Explains that genetic modification involves inserting foreign genes (transgenes) into a plant so the plant can express new traits/proteins.

A student could reason that if Cas9 were expressed in a crop it would require a transgene encoding the Cas9 protein — then look up whether such constructs are used to make herbicides in planta.

Mentions Bt brinjal and Bt as an example where GM crops express an insecticidal protein (Bt toxin), showing GM plants can be engineered to produce pesticidal proteins.

By analogy, a student can ask whether Cas9 is used similarly as an in-plant pesticidal protein (and then compare Cas9's known function to Bt's mode of action).

Defines GM crops as plants whose DNA is modified to confer traits like resistance to bacteria, viruses and other damaging agents — showing the typical goals of modification are resistance/safety and productivity.

A student could use this to assess whether producing a herbicidal substance aligns with common GM crop objectives and then investigate Cas9's typical intended use in biotechnology.

Gives a basic definition that GM crops have DNA altered using genetic engineering techniques — framing that any novel trait (including protein synthesis) would arise from deliberate genetic changes.

A student can combine this with knowledge of what Cas9 does (a genome-editing nuclease) to judge plausibility of crops being engineered to synthesize Cas9 as a herbicide.