TASK Genome Editing Sources For BT Cotton

Background:
A farmer who is based in Walgett, in Northern NSW wants to grow BT Cotton. BT Cotton is a
genetically modified (GMO) cotton, which produces an insecticide to combat bollworm. In
order to grow these crops, the farmer needs to get permission from city council, who consults
the views of a scientist when making any farming decisions.
You are an environmental economist who has been asked to write a report for the council.
You have access to four (4) sources of information. Read all sources carefully to write the
essay required.
Source 1: Infographic
ISAAA (2019) Contribution to biotech crops to sustainability. Retrieved 22 April 2021, from
https://content.geneticliteracyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/graphic-789x1024.jpg
1
Source 2: Infographic
Smith, A. (2020). Why use Bt cotton?. Retrieved 22 April, 2021, from www.gmo.wix.com/04.jpg
Source 3: Textbook extract

Chidwari, G. (2018). Biology in Focus - Year 12 2nd Edition. Cengage Learning Australia.
Bt cotton plants
Over the years, traditional pesticides used on cotton plants had to be made stronger and be
applied more frequently to eradicate insect pests. One example of an insect pest is the cotton
bollworm. This is the caterpillar of the Helicoverpa zea moth, and it destroys hundreds of
millions of dollars’ worth of cotton plants each year. With increased spraying of chemicals,
these caterpillars were developing resistance to the pesticides due to the process of natural
selection.
Bt cotton plants were genetically modified (this means to add or remove genes) – they contain
a gene that codes for a protein that kills the caterpillar of the Helicoverpa zea moth. The
protein is harmless to humans and most animals, and even to most insects. However, when it
is eaten by the caterpillar, it is changed by the caterpillar’s digestive system into the toxic form
that kills the caterpillar. This has reduced the need for pesticides to be used to kill these
caterpillars. The gene is called Bt because it was originally taken from the soil bacterium,
Bacillus thuringiensis.
2
Source 4 – Extract from CSIROpedia
Ward, C. (2014). Genetically modified cotton varieties - CSIROpedia. CSIROpedia. Retrieved 20
April 2021, from https://csiropedia.csiro.au/genetically-modified-cotton-varieties/.
Genetically modified cotton varieties

CSIRO has been the driving force behind the development, deployment and adoption of
Genetically Modified (GM) cotton varieties in Australia. Today, Australia’s cotton industry is
almost entirely dependent on the growing of GM cotton varieties produced by CSIRO research
teams. Their research has allowed the cotton industry to substantially reduce the use of
environmentally damaging pesticides and herbicides.
The industry has an export value of over $1.5 billion per annum, for the production of fine
count cotton yarns. Cotton was the first GM field crop grown in Australia and the GM cotton
varieties have been used by Australian growers since the late 1990s yielding significant
environmental and economic benefits.
Ingard® and Bollgard® II cotton varieties
Released as Ingard® cotton in 1996 the first GM insect tolerant CSIRO varieties were rapidly
adopted by the Australian industry. These varieties of Bt cotton provide protection against
insect damage. Because of the potential for the bollworm to develop resistance, the allowable
area for planting of Ingard® cotton was restricted to up to 30% of the total area planted on any
farm. After six years Ingard® was replaced by a two gene product (Bollgard® II). Bollgard® II
cotton does not have area planting restrictions as is less likely to result in the bollworm
developing resistance. Pesticide usage in Bollgard® II cotton was reduced by 80% each year
resulting in significant reductions in the total chemical load on the environment in cotton
cropping areas.
Following the development of Ingard® and Bollgard® II cotton, breeding into CSIRO varieties
also began with the Monsanto Roundup Ready® gene which confers tolerance to the
environmentally friendly herbicide glyphosate. After its release in 2000 it was also adopted
rapidly by growers. These herbicide tolerant GM varieties have enabled a reduction in the use
of residual grass herbicides by 62% and residual broadleaf weed herbicides by 33% on a
significant proportion of the area sown to cotton. It has also reduced the need for hand
chipping of weeds and mechanical cultivation. Both have important human health and safety
and land conservation implications for the industry and in combination a major impact on the
profitability and sustainability of Australian cotton production, benefiting all Australians.

TASK Genome Editing Sources For BT Cotton

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Source 3: Textbook extract

Genetically modified cotton varieties

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