Bt Corn Lab Report
Bt Corn Lab Report
Deidra Dunlap, Tanya Hayes, Ashley Palmer, Cinnamon Rader, Tabitha Rue
Tusculum College
Bt Corn Lab
What is Bt Corn? Bt corn is a genetically modified organism, often referred to as a GMO. “A GMO is a plant or animal that has been genetically modified through the addition of a small amount of genetic material from other organisms through molecular techniques.” (Bessin, 1999 rev. 2004, p.1). The production of GMO’s came about because of the need to provide a form of protection from pests, a resistance to different pesticides, and to improve the quality of the crop.
Why was it made? Bt corn was produced to combat the species of caterpillar pest called Lepidopteran. It was made to take care of one of these types of caterpillars specifically, the European corn borer. Bt corn is made to include the gene from Bacillus thuringeiensis. This bacterium lives naturally in soil. It produces a toxin that becomes a pesticide. Bt corn can produce this type of pesticide in its pollen. (para 1).
How is it made? When Bt corn is made the producers use a specific protein that was found in the soil bacterium, Bacilleus thuringiensis, as previously stated. They found and isolated the gene that produces the protein that is needed to make seeds that will become poisonous to the pests without having to use pesticide. This is how GMOs, genetically modified organisms, are created. In the case of Bt corn the protein is called Bt Delta Endotoxin. (Bessin, 1999 Revised 2004, p.1).
Where is it used? According to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, as cited in Sears et al’s 2001 study, 28% of crops that are found in areas from eastern Kansas/Nebraska to western New York, are planted with corn. As of 2001, 26% of the corn fields planted in North America use various Bt corn seeds. (para 1).
Hypothesis
Corn exposed to no European Corn Borers (ECB) will yield the most; corn exposed to few borers will yield less, corn exposed to more borers will
Deidra Dunlap, Tanya Hayes, Ashley Palmer, Cinnamon Rader, Tabitha Rue
Tusculum College
Bt Corn Lab
What is Bt Corn? Bt corn is a genetically modified organism, often referred to as a GMO. “A GMO is a plant or animal that has been genetically modified through the addition of a small amount of genetic material from other organisms through molecular techniques.” (Bessin, 1999 rev. 2004, p.1). The production of GMO’s came about because of the need to provide a form of protection from pests, a resistance to different pesticides, and to improve the quality of the crop.
Why was it made? Bt corn was produced to combat the species of caterpillar pest called Lepidopteran. It was made to take care of one of these types of caterpillars specifically, the European corn borer. Bt corn is made to include the gene from Bacillus thuringeiensis. This bacterium lives naturally in soil. It produces a toxin that becomes a pesticide. Bt corn can produce this type of pesticide in its pollen. (para 1).
How is it made? When Bt corn is made the producers use a specific protein that was found in the soil bacterium, Bacilleus thuringiensis, as previously stated. They found and isolated the gene that produces the protein that is needed to make seeds that will become poisonous to the pests without having to use pesticide. This is how GMOs, genetically modified organisms, are created. In the case of Bt corn the protein is called Bt Delta Endotoxin. (Bessin, 1999 Revised 2004, p.1).
Where is it used? According to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, as cited in Sears et al’s 2001 study, 28% of crops that are found in areas from eastern Kansas/Nebraska to western New York, are planted with corn. As of 2001, 26% of the corn fields planted in North America use various Bt corn seeds. (para 1).
Hypothesis
Corn exposed to no European Corn Borers (ECB) will yield the most; corn exposed to few borers will yield less, corn exposed to more borers will