1.^ An in vitro experimental study was performed to investigate the effects of transformed maize plant
cells expressing both cysteine proteinase (CP) and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin on Lepidopteran
larvae.
Active Bt toxin creates pores in midgut
epithelial cells, which cause cell lysis resulting
in mortality.
Mutation is not a directed process, but a
stochastic process based on chance events in
nature, and chance mutations in organisms.
It was observed that percentage mortality of Lepidopteran
larvae fed with a combination of CP with Bt-toxin together,
was much higher than with either CP, or Bt-toxin alone.
i. Suggest how CP may enhance the effect of Bt-toxin on
Lepidopteran larvae?
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ii. Over many generations, laboratory populations of
Lepidopteran larvae have evolved resistance against
Bt-toxins. Suggest and explain how this resistance is
developed?
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