Biotechnology and Its Applications Question 21
21. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is widely used in contemporary biology as
[2009]
(a) insecticide
(b) agent for production of dairy products
(c) source of industrial enzyme
(d) indicator of water pollution
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Answer : a
Hints & Solutions
(a) The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is widely used in contemporary biology as insecticide. Bacillus thuringiensis (also known as $B t$ ) is a Gram-positive, soil dwelling bacterium of the genus Bacillus. Bacillus thuringiensis produces a parasporal insecticidal crystal protein. Grampositive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer and no outer lipid membrane whilst Gram negative bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer and have an outer lipid membrane.
