5.15a Genetically Modified Plants

Key Points:
1. Maize can be damaged by the larvae of the European cork borer. This can cause up to 20% loss of crop yield.
2. The existance of a bacterium called BT, one of the chromosomes contains a gene which produces BT toxin. This is known to kill the cork borer larvae.
3. The first step is to take a restriction enzyme and cut out the gene of the BT which produces the toxin. This has to be transferred to the cells of the maize plant. This isnt easy. The technique which is being used is to use a gene gun and fire tiny pieces of gold covered with the BT gene and firing them at high velocity into the plant. This makes the maize cells contain BT. Kills larvae. Gives the maize resistance to damage caused by the cork borer.