Emily+and+Brett

=**BT GM COTTON AND OTHER GM CROPS** = =(Bacillus Thuringiensis Genetically Modified Cotton and Other GM Crops) = by Emilee L. and Brett W.

PROS

BT GM Cotton is a type of cotton that is genetically modified. It is very effective in it's __job__; to kill budworms, bollworms, and pink bollworms. Farmers needed a solution after losing crops to these worms, and in 1996, the answer became clear. Bacillus Thuringiensis works by entering the worm's guts and becoming __active__ and destroying the lining of the insect. In a few days, the worm dies. BT is a bacteria, and it's genes are used in short strands to be placed into the plant. The plant then can produce the crystal protein from their injection of the genes. Farmers were loosing a [|quarter of a million dollars to the insects in 1995]. In Alabama (see chart), over 28% of crops were lost to the worms, even after strong pesticides had been used. And pesticides shouldn't have to be the answer, as they can harm the environment unintentionally. This cotton has several cost benefits as well, such as decreasing [|pest control costs]and decreasing farmer's overall expenses by [|8 cents] per pound of cotton, which can add up to quite a bit of saved money. But there are more crops being [|genetically] modified then just BT GM cotton. __Fruits and vegetables__, such as tomatoes and cantalopes, have been injected with genes to increase their ripening characteristics. There are soybeans being modified inable to resist herbicides. Corn is also being edited gene-wise to kill insects like BT GM cotton. There are many advancements being developed in the crop world, making food easier for farmers to grow and better for farmer's profits.



__Table of Contents__
__**G**____**O TO**__ **Cons** ===__**GO ****TO **__ [|Bacillus thuringiensis](U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency) For More Information.===
 * __GO TO__ Our Conclusion **

'Yield Losses' Table Source- Frisvold, G. "Bt Cotton Data." //Bacillus Thuringiensis //. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. .