smc-3653-20-Evaluating Genetic Technology

BIOLOGY, M6 2024 HSC 34

Discuss the ethical implications and impacts on society of the use of TWO biotechnologies. (7 marks)

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Social impacts of recombinant DNA technology (plant biotechnology)

→ Recombinant DNA has created beneficial products like Bt corn and Bt cotton.

→ Bt crops require fewer pesticide applications since they produce their own insecticidal proteins.

→ This reduces chemical pesticide costs for farmers and decreases environmental impact from pesticide spraying.

Associated ethical concerns:

→ Farmers growing Bt corn and cotton must purchase, at a significant cost, new GM seeds each season. Traditional farmers can reuse their seeds for the following year’s crop planting.

→ This difference creates economic disparities in access to GM crops and the related market opportunities.

Social impacts of selective breeding/hybridisation (animal biotechnology)

→ Selective breeding/hybridisation has produced, for example, dairy cows capable of increased milk production.

→ This results in higher yields and greater food availability.

→ Improved profits and living standards for farmers who can access the technology.

→ Increased food production to support population growth.

Associated ethical issues:

→ High-yield dairy cows show decreased fertility.

→ May compromise animal welfare and quality of life.

Show Worked Solution

Social impacts of recombinant DNA technology (plant biotechnology)

→ Recombinant DNA has created beneficial products like Bt corn and Bt cotton.

→ Bt crops require fewer pesticide applications since they produce their own insecticidal proteins.

→ This reduces chemical pesticide costs for farmers and decreases environmental impact from pesticide spraying.

Associated ethical concerns:

→ Farmers growing Bt corn and cotton must purchase, at a significant cost, new GM seeds each season. Traditional farmers can reuse their seeds for the following year’s crop planting.

→ This difference creates economic disparities in access to GM crops and the related market opportunities.

♦ Mean mark 56%.

Social impacts of selective breeding/hybridisation (animal biotechnology)

→ Selective breeding/hybridisation has produced, for example, dairy cows capable of increased milk production.

→ This results in higher yields and greater food availability.

→ Improved profits and living standards for farmers who can access the technology.

→ Increased food production to support population growth.

Associated ethical issues:

→ High-yield dairy cows show decreased fertility.

→ May compromise animal welfare and quality of life.

BIOLOGY, M6 2024 HSC 25

One-Eyed Jack was a rescue dog that had been injured and lost an eye before his owner adopted him. One-Eyed Jack was cloned and the clone was born with two eyes.
Explain why the cloned dog was born with two eyes. (2 marks)

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Describe how animals like dogs can be cloned. (4 marks)

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a. Reason(s) the cloned dog had two eyes:

→ The DNA used for cloning came from One-Eyed Jack’s somatic (body) cells which contained the complete genetic code for normal eye development.

→ The physical injury that caused Jack to lose his eye did not alter his genes, so it wasn’t passed on to the clone.

b. Animal cloning process:

→ The cloning process begins by removing the nucleus from a host egg cell.

→ This is replaced with the nucleus from a body cell of the animal to be cloned.

→ This produces a zygote.

→ After electrical stimulation causes the reconstructed cell to begin dividing, it is implanted into a surrogate mother’s uterus.

→ It then develops into a cloned offspring.

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a. Reason(s) the cloned dog had two eyes:

→ The DNA used for cloning came from One-Eyed Jack’s somatic (body) cells which contained the complete genetic code for normal eye development.

→ The physical injury that caused Jack to lose his eye did not alter his genes, so it wasn’t passed on to the clone.

b. Animal cloning process:

→ The cloning process begins by removing the nucleus from a host egg cell.

→ This is replaced with the nucleus from a body cell of the animal to be cloned.

→ This produces a zygote.

→ After electrical stimulation causes the reconstructed cell to begin dividing, it is implanted into a surrogate mother’s uterus.

→ It then develops into a cloned offspring.

♦ Mean mark (b) 52%.

BIOLOGY, M6 2021 VCE 9

The following table provides information on three commonly grown genetically modified (GM) crops in Australia.

Select one of the GM crops in the table above and justify whether or not this crop could be described as transgenic. (1 mark)

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One issue with GM canola is the accidental release, during transport, of seeds along roadsides. Usually, unwanted plants that grow on the side of the road are killed using the herbicide glyphosate. However, GM canola is resistant to glyphosate.
Suggest one practical solution for treating GM canola that is found growing along roadsides. (1 mark)

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A new GM canola crop has been approved for use in Australia. It contains increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important in humans for building healthy cell membranes and for general growth and development, and also protect against a wide variety of diseases.
Omega-3 has traditionally been sourced from fish. Due to the growing demand for sources of omega-3 , bioengineers have been encouraged to continue developing GM canola crops as a sustainable alternative.
Discuss one social implication and one biological implication of using GM canola with increased levels of omega-3. Use a different implication in each response. (4 marks)

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a. Answers should include one of the following:

→ GM cotton contains genes from other species or bacteria and is therefore transgenic.

→ GM canola contains genes from other species or bacteria and is therefore transgenic.

→ GM safflower does not contain genes from another species and is therefore not transgenic.

b. Possible answers include:

→ use alternative herbicides that the GM canola is not resistant to

→ digging out and removing roadside GM canola by hand

→ mowing the roadsides could help manage GM canola

→ burn the GM canola using controlled methods.

c. Social Implication – possible answers could include:

→ Depending on market demand non-GM canola farmers may see increased sales and improved quality of life, or decreased sales and lower quality of life.

→ GM canola farmers may benefit from higher yields and lower production costs may lead to increased profits and a better quality of life.

→ Consumers may benefit from improved nutrition that may lead to reduced strain on the healthcare system.

→ If GM canola becomes more affordable and accessible than alternative sources of nutrition, such as fish, a wider range of consumers will enjoy the health benefits.

→ Decreased consumption of fish due to the availability of cheaper, more accessible GM canola could lead to reduced sales and lower incomes for fish farmers, potentially decreasing their quality of life.

→ Some consumers may be hesitant to purchase or consume GM food products. This could lead to decreased demand for GM canola and lower incomes for farmers growing it.

Biological Implication – possible answers could include:

→ Crossbreeding between GM canola and non-GM canola crops could lead to changes in the genome of the crops which may reduce the genetic variation within the GM canola crop

→ Consumer safety concerns regarding consumption of GM products could negatively impact the demand for GM canola and other GM crops.

→ If GM canola leads to a reduction in fish consumption, it could have a positive impact on fish populations by reducing over-fishing. This could help to restore and maintain healthy fish populations in the long run.

→ Improved nutrition for consumers through the consumption of GM crops could lead to better health outcomes and improved well-being for the broader population.

Show Worked Solution

a. Answers should include one of the following:

→ GM cotton contains genes from other species or bacteria and is therefore transgenic.

→ GM canola contains genes from other species or bacteria and is therefore transgenic.

→ GM safflower does not contain genes from another species and is therefore not transgenic.

b. Possible answers include:

→ use alternative herbicides that the GM canola is not resistant to

→ digging out and removing roadside GM canola by hand

→ mowing the roadsides could help manage GM canola

→ burn the GM canola using controlled methods.

c. Social Implication – possible answers could include:

→ Depending on market demand non-GM canola farmers may see increased sales and improved quality of life, or decreased sales and lower quality of life.

→ GM canola farmers may benefit from higher yields and lower production costs may lead to increased profits and a better quality of life.

→ Consumers may benefit from improved nutrition that may lead to reduced strain on the healthcare system.

→ If GM canola becomes more affordable and accessible than alternative sources of nutrition, such as fish, a wider range of consumers will enjoy the health benefits.

→ Some consumers may be hesitant to purchase or consume GM food products. This could lead to decreased demand for GM canola and lower incomes for farmers growing it.

Biological Implication – possible answers could include:

→ Crossbreeding between GM canola and non-GM canola crops could lead to changes in the genome of the crops which may reduce the genetic variation within the GM canola crop

→ Consumer safety concerns regarding consumption of GM products could negatively impact the demand for GM canola and other GM crops.

→ Improved nutrition for consumers through the consumption of GM crops could lead to better health outcomes and improved well-being for the broader population.

♦ Mean mark (c) 47%.

BIOLOGY, M6 2023 HSC 18 MC

The graph shows the increase in the global yield of wheat from 1800-2020. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not currently used to grow wheat commercially.

What row in the table correctly identifies biotechnologies that have contributed to the increase in wheat yields and could be adapted to enhance commercial production in the future?

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→ Wheat does not have an embryo and only animals can be artificially inseminated.

♦ Mean mark 44%.

BIOLOGY, M6 2023 HSC 34

Cattle have been domesticated by humans for approximately 10 000 years. Many biotechnologies have been employed in the farming of cattle.

The table shows examples of the application of these biotechnologies.

With reference to the table, evaluate the effect of biotechnologies on the biodiversity of cattle. (5 marks)

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→ Biotechnologies can increase, decrease or maintain the size of the gene pool in populations and species, particularly in the case of cattle which have been subject to a range of biotechnologies.

→ Selective breeding, which decreases biodiversity, has been used for hundreds of years by farmers who oversee the reproduction of cattle with favourable characteristics, such as females who produce the most milk.

→ Artificial insemination, which typically reduces biodiversity, allows a single bull to sire many offspring. This process breeds out certain characteristics of cattle, reducing the diversity of the species. However, in certain circumstances, the gene pool of specific communities can be diversified through the introduction of new alleles.

→ Whole cattle cloning reduces biodiversity by making cloned organisms that are identical genotypes to the parent. As the success rate is low and cloned animals are infertile, this does not have the potential to have a large impact on biodiversity.

→ Hybridisation generally increases biodiversity by naturally mating two different cattle species and in the process, introducing genes not originally present.

→ Hybridisation can however also reduce biodiversity if cattle hybrids are then selectively bred in preference to the original breeds.

→ Transgenic organisms are produced where new alleles are artificially introduced into the species, increasing biodiversity. As this process is expensive and not widespread, it will not have a large effect on biodiversity.

→ In summary, the most wide spread and influential biotechnologies have the overall effect of decreasing the biodiversity of cattle.

Show Worked Solution

→ Biotechnologies can increase, decrease or maintain the size of the gene pool in populations and species, particularly in the case of cattle which have been subject to a range of biotechnologies.

→ Hybridisation generally increases biodiversity by naturally mating two different cattle species and in the process, introducing genes not originally present.

→ Hybridisation can however also reduce biodiversity if cattle hybrids are then selectively bred in preference to the original breeds.

→ In summary, the most wide spread and influential biotechnologies have the overall effect of decreasing the biodiversity of cattle.

BIOLOGY, M6 EQ-Bank 25

A woman recently conceived a baby guaranteed to be free from hereditary breast cancer. Doctors screened for an embryo that was free from a gene that can cause breast cancer.

The screening was performed due to the long history of this form of cancer in the family and the fact that any daughter born with the gene would have a 50-80% chance of developing breast cancer.

Explain the possible impact of this reproductive technology on the genetic composition of the population. (2 marks)

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Discuss the use of this genetic technology in the treatment of medical conditions. (3 marks)

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a. Impact on genetic composition of population

→ This use of this technology will reduce the frequency of the gene that is likely to produce breast cancer in the population.

→ In the longer term, proceeding generations of offspring will also not have the gene, resulting in fewer people suffering from breast cancer.

b. Genetic technology treatments

→ Genetic technologies are a great tool against preventing life-threatening genetic diseases, as well as being used as a treatment for other serious conditions such as cancer.

→ These genetic technologies can treat and potentially cure many genetic conditions, improving life expectancy, quality of life and reducing incidence.

→ Although many of the treatments are expensive upfront, they can reduce future ongoing medical costs.

→ Genetic technologies are relatively new and experimental on humans. This poses a risk of unknown side-effects later on in the patient’s life.

→ Scepticism surrounding many genetic technologies has brought up several ethical considerations including the unnatural attributes of the procedures and concerns of personal liberty and choice.

Show Worked Solution

a. Impact on genetic composition of population

→ This use of this technology will reduce the frequency of the gene that is likely to produce breast cancer in the population.

→ In the longer term, proceeding generations of offspring will also not have the gene, resulting in fewer people suffering from breast cancer.

b. Genetic technology treatments

→ Genetic technologies are a great tool against preventing life-threatening genetic diseases, as well as being used as a treatment for other serious conditions such as cancer.

→ These genetic technologies can treat and potentially cure many genetic conditions, improving life expectancy, quality of life and reducing incidence.

→ Although many of the treatments are expensive upfront, they can reduce future ongoing medical costs.

→ Genetic technologies are relatively new and experimental on humans. This poses a risk of unknown side-effects later on in the patient’s life.

→ Scepticism surrounding many genetic technologies has brought up several ethical considerations including the unnatural attributes of the procedures and concerns of personal liberty and choice.

BIOLOGY, M6 EQ-Bank 24

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cannot naturally ferment the sugar xylose. Low value biomass, such as straw and wood fibres, contains up to 20% xylose. S. cerevisiae was modified to enable it to produce ethanol from xylose. Information on the two species involved in making the modified S. cerevisiae is shown in the table.

Explain why biotechnology was needed to modify S. cerevisiae. (2 marks)

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Two strains of genetically modified S.cerevisiae were produced. The two strains were compared under the same conditions. The results are shown.
Justify which of these two strains would be better to use to produce commercial quantities of ethanol using low value biomass. In your answer, refer to information from the graph. (3 marks)

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a. → The table shows that the organisms are from different genera.

→ Genetic material generally can’t be transferred between organisms of different genera.

→ Genetic technology was therefore needed to cut out and insert the required genes from B. cenocepacia to create the genetically modified S. cerevisiae as this process could not occur naturally.

b. Best strain for commercial production

→ Strain B would be the more effective strain to use as it consistently produces double the ethanol of Strain A.

→ This can be seen even at the plateau of both strains, where at 30 hrs Strain B produced 20g/L of ethanol whilst Strain A only produced 10g/L.

→ These data in the graph indicates that Strain B will be more efficient at producing commercial ethanol in any given time-frame.

BIOLOGY, M6 EQ-Bank 6 MC

Glofish are a genetically-modified organism in which the gene that causes fluorescence in jellyfish has been inserted into a tropical fish species, typically Zebra fish. These fish are sold commercially for home aquariums. Some sectors of the community have said that humans do not have the right to make genetically-modified organisms for this purpose.

What is the main nature of their concern?

The limited application the Glofish have in society
The risks to the biodiversity of the Zebra fish species
The ethics of manipulating an organism's genes for commercial gain
That the Glofish may interbreed with other species causing serious mutations in the future

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Show Worked Solution

→ Ethical and moral dilemmas are always primary concerns when evaluating the use of transgenic organisms.

BIOLOGY, M6 EQ-Bank 1 MC

A student was doing a literature review on biotechnology and wanted to see how biotechnology research could positively benefit people who suffered from Type 1 diabetes. He found several potential measures that were being explored to help people with diabetes.

Which of the following measures does NOT use biotechnology?

Gene therapy in which genetic information is introduced into the cells of the pancreas
The screening of genes to inform potential parents of the risk of their child developing Type 1 diabetes
The use of auto-monitoring insulin pumps that can detect when a patient's insulin levels are dropping too low
Collecting survey data on the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in different communities to ensure insulin supplies are maintained at sufficient levels

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By Elimination

→ Gene therapy, auto monitoring insulin and screening and all examples of biotechnology. Option D is an epidemiological study (Eliminate A, B and C).

BIOLOGY, M6 2014 HSC 32e

The text summarises an ethical framework for decision-making related to the use of biotechnologies.

Evaluate the ethics of the use of ONE specific biotechnology in relation to this framework. (7 marks)

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→ Transgenic organisms are those in which a gene from another species has been inserted into their genome to provide a favourable characteristic to them.

→ The ‘Super Salmon’ is a genetically modified Atlantic salmon which contains genes from the Chinook salmon and Ocean Pout fish which allow it to grow to market size in colder conditions and therefore faster than wild type Atlantic salmon. This has the potential to increase the availability of salmon and therefore providing a benefit to society. However, the transgenic salmon are unnatural and the addition of the gene may effect other parts of the genome, potentially making the salmon unhealthy or harmful for consumption, providing no benefit to society.

→ Roundup-ready soybeans have an implemented gene which allows them to be immune to roundup, a herbicide sprayed onto the crops which kills weeds. While this will increase yield of soybeans as they will be unaffected by roundup, it is toxic to humans and residue could be on the soybeans at sale, providing harm to consumers. The mass use of roundup may also leak and drift into soils, and overtime ecosystems, harming surrounding environments.

→ In the cases above, the adverse effects on society and the environment of both transgenic organisms as stated above should be studied and compared to the positives to decide which has greater influence (Utilitarian Ethics).

→ The companies and groups responsible for development, distribution and sale of the transgenic organisms are also obligated to provide proof that their product does not induce any harm to society or the environment (The Precautionary Principle).

→ Since there is little evidence for short and long term safety of transgenic organisms for the environment and society, a valid case for ethical use of transgenic organisms has not yet been developed.

♦ Mean mark 55%.

BIOLOGY, M6 2016 HSC 18 MC

How does the production of a new transgenic species have the potential to alter the path of evolution?

The creation of new genes increases biodiversity.
The removal of genes from a species decreases biodiversity.
The transfer of genes within a species increases biodiversity.
The transfer of genes between two species increases biodiversity.

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Show Worked Solution

→ A new transgenic species arises through the transfer of genes between species.

BIOLOGY, M6 2015 HSC 29

'The application of modern reproductive techniques in plant and animal breeding limits genetic diversity.'

Discuss this statement. (6 marks)

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→ Artificial pollination occurs when humans perform the natural pollination process and transfer the pollen manually to the stigma of one plant from the anther of another.

→ Artificial insemination is the manual transfer of collected semen into the female reproductive system of animals and humans.

→ Both methods can result in an increase in the number of offspring that can be produced by one parent.

→ Whilst the increase in offspring produced may be beneficial, there is also the added risk of reducing the genetic diversity in future populations as one parent can produce many more offspring.

→ On the other hand where species are endangered, or natural processes are interrupted (for example declining bee populations), the techniques provide an opportunity for numbers to stabilise or even increase in subsequent generations.

→ Another advantage is that the process allows for banks of sperm and pollen to be established that can be accessed by other countries, thus creating genetic diversity, by enabling endangered species to survive across continents.

Show Worked Solution

→ Artificial pollination occurs when humans perform the natural pollination process and transfer the pollen manually to the stigma of one plant from the anther of another.

→ Artificial insemination is the manual transfer of collected semen into the female reproductive system of animals and humans.

→ Both methods can result in an increase in the number of offspring that can be produced by one parent.

→ Whilst the increase in offspring produced may be beneficial, there is also the added risk of reducing the genetic diversity in future populations as one parent can produce many more offspring.

♦ Mean mark 49%.

BIOLOGY, M6 2019 HSC 24

Explain the loss of biodiversity that may result from TWO biotechnologies used in agriculture. (5 marks)

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→ Biodiversity can refer to both the diversity of species within an ecosystem, but also the variety of genomes and allele frequencies present within a species.

→ Biotechnologies used in agriculture may reduce biodiversity on both scales.

→ Artificial insemination involves the process of manually injecting sperm of favoured genetic traits into females of favoured genetic traits to have a greater chance of producing offspring of a desired type.

→ The repeated use of this process will result in all offspring becoming genetically similar, reducing the diversity within the species.

→ Artificial insemination has an equivalent process in plants which can result in the loss of genetic diversity in a similar way.

→ Transgenic organisms are those whose genomes have been modified by having a gene from another species inserted into it.

→ The mass use of this process will produce genetically advanced animals or crops which out-compete wild and native types, reducing the biodiversity of its species.

→ The use of transgenic organisms such as Bt cotton has also resulted in the reduction of its main pest, Bollworm. While a pest to the crop and the farmers, Bt cotton has resulted in the reduction of Bollworm in areas where it is prominent, reducing the diversity of the ecosystem it resides in.

BIOLOGY, M6 2019 HSC 19-20 MC

Use the following diagram to answer Questions 19-20.

The diagram shows how CRISPR/Cas9 can be used as a new tool for genetic engineering. This technology has dramatically improved scientists' ability to successfully modify genomes.

Question 19

What type of structure must Cas9 be?

Enzyme
mRNA
Ribosome
tRNA

Question 20

Scientists have been able to use biotechnology to 'cut and paste' DNA for decades.

Why would the new CRISPR/Cas9 technology have improved the scientists' success in cutting DNA of specific genes?

Cas9 is able to combine with specific DNA.
Cas 9 has an active site that cuts target DNA.
gRNA has the same nucleotides as the target DNA.
gRNA has nucleotides complementary to the target DNA.

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Q19.

Q20.

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Question 19

→ Cas9 performs a ‘cutting mechanism’, a property of DNA helicase, a known enzyme.

→ Cas9 also contains a recognition site which it uses to perform its tasks, another property of enzymes.

Question 20

→ Cas9 has gRNA with complementary bases to the target gene, as displayed in the diagram above.

→ The improvement is due to this feature, as scientists can now use multiple gRNA sequences to cut various amounts of genes and various recognition sites.

♦♦♦ Mean mark (Q20) 23%.

BIOLOGY, M6 2022 HSC 29

Bt cotton has been genetically engineered to produce an insecticide that kills cotton bollworm. It was introduced to a cotton-producing nation in 2002.

The graphs show trends of national cotton yield, % Bt cotton grown, total insecticide use, insecticide use to control bollworms and insecticide use to control another insect pest (hemiptera).

Explain ONE reason why cotton yield changed between 2002 and 2013. (2 marks)

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To what extent do the data support the use of Bt cotton as a method of disease control in cotton? (5 marks)

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a. Cotton yield increase between 2002-2013:

→ The cotton yield increased because the pesticide produced by Bt cotton will decrease the likelihood of the plant contracting Bollworm, which kills the plant.

→ This increases the percentage of healthy cotton, increasing the yield of cotton that is harvested.

b. Use of Bt cotton for disease control:

→ Bt cotton is effective in producing plants resistant to Bollworm.

→ The amount of pesticide used for Bollworm dropped to less than 500 tonnes by 2008, and approaching zero by 2013.

→ This saves farmers money which can be spent on other measures effective for disease control, such as better hygiene in the workplace.

→ The top graph also shows an increase in cotton yield, further supporting the statement above.

→ Bt cotton however is not effective as a method of disease control against Hemipteran.

→ The amount of pesticide used for Hemipteran increased by 8000 tonnes from 2002 to 2013. This increase has taken the total pesticide used in 2013 to above that used in 2002.

→ While Bt cotton may be effective against Bollworm, other pests such as Hemipteran can now thrive and cause problems to cotton farms.

→ More studies with other cotton pest species need to be done in a similar style to prove if Bt cotton would be a well-rounded and effective method of disease control.