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Question

Hello:
1) I am an agricultural producer/grower located in Ottawa, Ont. Canada and I have the following questions, what is the scientific name of the "BT" gene that has been put into Sweet Corn to help reduce the levels of insect boring into the corn cob, and is this gene a natural occurring gene in the world?
2) Are there presently other horticultural crops that are considered to be GMO's, and if so could you identify them for me.
3) The name Genetically Modified Organism is a terrible name is there any other suggested name that we can refer to when asked by our customers ?

Submitted by: greg


Answer

Expert response from Community Manager

Wednesday, 01/10/2014 17:37

Thanks for your questions. As a trained entomologist working in biotechnology, I appreciate questions about GMOs and bugs! I’ll answer yours in the order in which you asked them.

 

1)    “Bt” is an abbreviation for a common bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis, which exists naturally in the soil. If you removed and analyzed a cup of soil from your backyard, you could find different strains of these Bacilli

 

The Btgene that exists in sweet corn comes from the strain kurstaki. Part of the life cycle for the Bt bacterium is a phase called “sporulation,” which triggers the production of crystalline proteins, like the Cry1Ab protein expressed by biotech sweet corn. These proteins can inhibit the survival and growth of certain insects, and, fortunately for farmers, scientists have genetically engineered corn plants to express the same insect-controlling protein. This protein is highly effective against stalk-boring bugs in corn while also safe for humans and the environment. Bt actually has long been used in organic farming as a pesticide.

 

2)    There are numerous grain and horticultural crops that are considered genetically modified. They include commodity crops, like corn, soybeans and cotton, but also a number of others, including alfalfa, canola/rapeseed, papaya, squash, sugar beet and eggplant (available in Bangladesh). You can find a comprehensive list of biotech product approvals by country here.

 

Genetic modification provides a broad range of benefits in the field and for consumers, and researchers around the world are working on new and innovative science that could result in crops that produce vaccines, advanced biofuels or bioplastics or could be used for cleaning up hazardous wastes. 

 

3)    For more than two decades, there have been debates about how best to describe the use of this technology. From “biotechnology” to “genetic engineering” to “genetically modified” or “GM,” a number of terms are still used. Because the term “GM” or “GMO” has been most widely used, that is how we are referring to the technology on this site.  

Answer

Expert response from Community Manager

Wednesday, 01/10/2014 17:37

Thanks for your questions. As a trained entomologist working in biotechnology, I appreciate questions about GMOs and bugs! I’ll answer yours in the order in which you asked them.

 

1)    “Bt” is an abbreviation for a common bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis, which exists naturally in the soil. If you removed and analyzed a cup of soil from your backyard, you could find different strains of these Bacilli

 

The Btgene that exists in sweet corn comes from the strain kurstaki. Part of the life cycle for the Bt bacterium is a phase called “sporulation,” which triggers the production of crystalline proteins, like the Cry1Ab protein expressed by biotech sweet corn. These proteins can inhibit the survival and growth of certain insects, and, fortunately for farmers, scientists have genetically engineered corn plants to express the same insect-controlling protein. This protein is highly effective against stalk-boring bugs in corn while also safe for humans and the environment. Bt actually has long been used in organic farming as a pesticide.

 

2)    There are numerous grain and horticultural crops that are considered genetically modified. They include commodity crops, like corn, soybeans and cotton, but also a number of others, including alfalfa, canola/rapeseed, papaya, squash, sugar beet and eggplant (available in Bangladesh). You can find a comprehensive list of biotech product approvals by country here.

 

Genetic modification provides a broad range of benefits in the field and for consumers, and researchers around the world are working on new and innovative science that could result in crops that produce vaccines, advanced biofuels or bioplastics or could be used for cleaning up hazardous wastes. 

 

3)    For more than two decades, there have been debates about how best to describe the use of this technology. From “biotechnology” to “genetic engineering” to “genetically modified” or “GM,” a number of terms are still used. Because the term “GM” or “GMO” has been most widely used, that is how we are referring to the technology on this site.