Final answer:
The Bt gene is introduced into plants like corn or cotton using genetic engineering techniques such as recombinant DNA technology. One method involves using the natural transfer of DNA from Agrobacterium to a plant host, while another method involves cloning the crystal toxin genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and introducing them into the plants. Bt crops, which produce insecticidal proteins, help reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and protect the plants from insect pests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of introducing the Bt gene into plants like corn or cotton involves genetic engineering techniques such as recombinant DNA technology.
One method is to use the natural transfer of DNA from Agrobacterium to a plant host. Researchers manipulate plasmids called Ti plasmids to remove tumor-causing genes and insert the desired DNA fragment into the plant genome. Another method is to clone the crystal toxin genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and introduce them into the plants, allowing them to produce their own insecticidal protein.
These genetically modified plants, known as Bt crops, help reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and protect the plants from insect pests.