SUBMITTED BY:- SUBMITTED TO:-
KIRAN Meena Devi
mam
12TH CLASS PGT Biology
JNV BIDAR JNV BIDAR
ROLL NO:-
Acknowledgement
I want to show my heartfelt gratitude to my
teacher, principal, friends and my family for
their help and support during my investigatory
project.
First and foremost, I would like to express my
appreciation for the support and guidance
provided by my teachers throughout this
project.
Their expertise and encouragement were
invaluable in helping me navigate the
complexities of the scientific process and
develop a comprehensive and well-executed
project.
I would also like to thank
our honorable principal for creating
motivating environment in the school.
Name: KIRAN
Acknowledgement.in
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project
titled “Bt Cotton or Bt Brinjal”
submitted BY KIRAN of class XII for
the subject of English is her original
work, presented to
JAWAHARNAVODAYA VIDYALAYA
BIDAR for partial fulfilment of the
CBSE examination requirements for
class XII. I guided and supervised
the project MEENA DEVI MAM has
demonstrated sincere effort
throughout the project. I affirm that
the project meets the necessary
standards and is suitable for
submission
TEACHERS SIGNATURE EXAMINER SIGATURE
Project on Information About Bt
Cotton or Bt Brinjal
An investigatory project focused on
Bt cotton or Bt brinjal (Bt eggplant)
can cover a wide range of topics.
Below is an example of a project that
provides in-depth information about
either of these genetically modified
organisms (GMOs), their benefits,
risks, and scientific Basis .
Project Title:
An Overview of Bt Cotton and Bt
Brinjal: Advancements in
Agricultural Biotechnology
Objective:
To understand the scientific principles,
benefits, challenges, and implications of
Bt cotton and Bt brinjal in modern
agriculture.
Introduction:
Biotechnology has revolutionized
agriculture through the development of
genetically modified crops. Among the
most well-known genetically modified
(GM) crops are Bt cotton and Bt
brinjal. These crops have been
engineered to express a protein from the
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt),
which acts as a pesticide to protect
against certain pests.
Bt Cotton: This is a genetically
modified variety of cotton that
contains the Bacillus thuringiensis
gene, which produces a protein
toxic to specific insects, primarily
the
bollworm, a major pest of cotton
crops.
Bt Brinjal (Eggplant):
This genetically modified variety
of brinjal contains the same Bt
gene to protect against the brinjal
fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes
orbonalis), which is a serious pest
affecting brinjal crops.
Scientific Basis of Bt Crops:
The core principle behind Bt cotton
and Bt brinjal is genetic modification.
Scientists transfer the gene from
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) into the
plants’ DNA, enabling them to produce
an insecticidal protein (Cry protein).
This protein is harmless to humans and
animals but toxic to certain pests. When
the pest eats part of the plant, the Cry
protein disrupts their digestive system,
leading to the pest's death.
Steps in Developing Bt Crops:
1. Identification of Target Pest:
The pest that threatens the
crop (bollworm for cotton,
brinjal fruit and shoot borer for
brinjal) is identified.
2. Gene Isolation: The specific
gene from Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) is isolated.
This gene codes for
a protein that is toxic to the target
pest.
3. Gene Insertion: The Bt gene
is inserted into the DNA of the
crop (either cotton or brinjal)
using techniques like gene guns
or bacterial vectors.
4. Testing: The genetically
modified crop is tested
for pest
resistance and other agricultural
traits, ensuring it doesn't negatively
affect the plant's growth or human
health.
Benefits of Bt Cotton and Bt Brinjal:
1. Pest Resistance:
o
o Bt Cotton: Protects against
bollworm, leading to a
significant reduction in the need
for chemical pesticides,
improving cotton yield and
quality.
o Bt Brinjal: Protects against
brinjal fruit and shoot borer,
reducing damage from pests
and improving yield.
2. Reduced Pesticide Use:
o Bt crops require fewer pesticide
applications, reducing the
overall chemical load on the
environment and lowering the
exposure to farmworkers.
3. Increased Yield:
o With pests no longer damaging
the crops, farmers can expect
higher yields of Bt cotton and
Bt brinjal.
4. Economic Benefits:
o Farmers can reduce costs
associated with purchasing
chemical pesticides and
spraying equipment, leading to
better profits from increased
yield and lower input costs.
5. Environmental Benefits:
o Less chemical pesticide use
leads to less runoff into the
environment, contributing to a
cleaner ecosystem.
o Bt crops also reduce the impact
of pests on natural predators
like
beneficial insects, as fewer
broad-spectrum pesticides
are needed.
Challenges and Concerns:
1. Resistance Development:
o Over time, pests can develop
resistance to the Cry protein
produced by Bt crops. This has
been observed in certain pest
populations. Continuous
monitoring and the development
of new Bt crops with different
or additional traits may be
required to combat resistance.
2. Biodiversity Impact:
o There are concerns that the
widespread use of Bt crops
might affect non-target
organisms, such as beneficial
insects and
pollinators, although studies have
shown that Bt proteins are
generally non-toxic to these
organisms.
o There is also the risk that Bt
proteins might affect other
species that were not
originally intended as targets.
3. Gene Flow:
o The possibility of cross-
breeding between Bt crops and
wild relatives or non-Bt crops
could spread the genetically
modified traits unintentionally.
This could result in the transfer
of the Bt gene to non-GM crops
or wild species.
4. Ethical and
Consumer Concerns:
o There is a growing debate
about the ethics of genetically
modifying crops, especially
regarding food safety and long-
term health impacts. While
scientific consensus generally
supports the safety of GMOs,
public perception can be
negative, leading to calls for
labeling and regulation.
5. Economic Concerns for
Small Farmers:
o Bt seeds are often more
expensive than non-Bt seeds,
which could be a financial
burden for small-scale
farmers, particularly in
developing countries.
o Dependency on seed
companies that patent Bt
technology can lead to
concerns over seed availability
and pricing.
6. Case Studies of Bt Cotton
and Bt Brinjal:
7. Bt Cotton in India:
8. India is one of the largest
producers of cotton and has
widely adopted Bt cotton. Since
its introduction in 2002, Bt cotton
has had a significant impact on the
country's cotton production. A
reduction in pesticide use and a
substantial increase in cotton yield
have been reported. However, the
rise of pest resistance, particularly
to the bollworm, is emerging as a
challenge
.
Bt Brinjal in Bangladesh:
Bt brinjal was approved for commercial
cultivation in Bangladesh in 2014.
Early studies and reports show that the
crop has led to a reduction in the use of
chemical pesticides and a notable
increase in yields. However, concerns
over long-term environmental and
ecological impacts remain.
Conclusion:
Bt cotton and Bt brinjal represent
significant advancements in
agricultural biotechnology, offering
potential solutions for pest control,
environmental sustainability, and
economic gains. However, challenges
such as resistance development,
biodiversity concerns, and ethical
debates must be carefully managed.
Ongoing research and regulation will be
crucial in ensuring that the benefits of
these GM crops outweigh any potential
risks.
References:
James, C. (2014). Global Status of
Commercialized Biotech/GM
Crops: 2014. ISAAA Briefs No. 49.
International Service for the
Acquisition of Agri-biotech
Applications (ISAAA).
Shu, Q. Y., & Wang, L. (2017).
Development of Bt Brinjal and its
Impact on Agriculture. Springer.
This project structure covers key
information about Bt cotton and Bt
brinjal, providing a thorough analysis of
the crops, their benefits, challenges, and
global context. It can be modified based
on your specific needs or focus area.
