Final answer:
To ensure the expression of the bacterial insecticide gene in the GM cotton plant, the GFP fusion technique will be utilized for transcriptional analysis of promoter activity and translational analysis of protein location. Therefore, the correct answer is a. transcriptional; translational.
Step-by-step explanation:
In addressing the task of ensuring the expression of a bacterial insecticide gene in the GM cotton plant, the molecular biologist opts to use the GFP fusion technique. This technique allows for a comprehensive analysis of gene regulation through two key processes:
1. Transcriptional Analysis (Promoter Activity):
- GFP fusion will be employed to detect the activity of the gene promoter. This provides insights into the transcriptional aspects of gene expression, helping understand when and where the gene is transcribed into mRNA.
2. Translational Analysis (Protein Localization):
- Additionally, GFP fusion will be utilized to determine the location of the protein in plant tissues at various growth stages. This step involves studying the translational aspects of gene expression, specifically focusing on the spatial distribution of the protein within the plant.
By employing both transcriptional and translational analyses, the molecular biologist can gain a comprehensive understanding of how the bacterial insecticide gene is regulated and expressed in GM cotton plants at different developmental stages.
Therefore, the correct answer is a. transcriptional; translational.