Given below are two statements: Statement I : The proteins encoded by the genes cryIAc and cryIIAb control the cotton bollworms, while that of cryIAb controls the corn borer. Statement II : The Bt toxin protein exists as an active toxin in the bacterium, but it is unable to kill the Bacillus due to the presence of a protective bacterial capsule. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer

Step-by-step solution

Statement I is correct because the proteins encoded by the genes cryIAc and cryIIAb control the cotton bollworms, while the protein encoded by cryIAb controls the corn borer. Statement II is incorrect because the Bt toxin protein exists as an inactive protoxin in the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis . It does not exist as an active toxin. It is converted into an active form only after ingestion by an insect, due to the alkaline pH of the insect's gut which solubilises the protein crystals. The bacterium is not kill