Question

What does the greater specificity of Bt toxin mean?

Options

• It acts against all organisms in the environment equally

• It acts against selected insect groups rather than all organisms

• It targets both plants and animals indiscriminately

• It kills only beneficial insects

Answer 1

Greater specificity means the Bt toxin acts selectively against certain target insect groups (those with appropriate gut pH and receptor sites) rather than harming all organisms in the ecosystem. This selective toxicity is an advantage because it minimizes harm to non-target organisms, including beneficial insects and soil microorganisms, reducing overall environmental pollution.