Question

Give different types of cry genes and pests which are controlled by the proteins encoded by the genes.

Answer 1

There are three types of cry genes found and it is present in the Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) and it acts as a poison to the insects. First of all you should know what cry genes are, these genes encode cry proteins which are toxic crystal proteins and it is toxic to certain insects. These genes are responsible for the crystalline proteins as these proteins help in the destruction of the pests. These are found in Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) and it acts as a poison to the insects.

Complete answer:
There are three different types of cry genes which are:
cry IAC- It is responsible for the control of the corn borer pest.
cry IAB- It is responsible for the control of bollworms in the cotton plants since it attacks the cotton.
cry IIAB- It is also responsible for the control of bollworms in the cotton plants since it attacks the cotton.
Farmers use BT cotton instead of natural cotton since the cry gene is present in Bacillus thuringiensis which kills the insects by entering in their gut due to the alkaline medium. It also prevents mites from coming and eating away the farmer's hard work.

Additional information:
BT is a gram positive bacteria which is used as a biological pesticide and it occurs naturally in the gut of moths, butterflies, etc. It is also found on the surface of leaves, aquatic environment, on the animal's feces, etc. It produces crystalline proteins which have insecticidal actions which means that it is toxic to insects as when they engulf it then it enters their gut and then they die of it. It has proved to be a great pest used by the farmers in order to protect their crops from insects like bollworms etc.

Note: Pests are those genes or proteins which kill the insects and it is used by the farmers in order for the protection of their crops, cry gene is one of them as it has insecticidal action and there are three types of cry genes found which are cry IAC, cry IAB, cry IIAB.