Biotechnology & Its Applications: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do NOT say Bt toxin is active inside the bacterium — it exists as an inactive crystalline protoxin inside Bacillus thuringiensis; it is activated only after ingestion by the insect
Do NOT confuse cry genes between crops — cry1Ac and cry2Ab are for cotton; cry1Ab is for corn. Swapping even one gene name is a common error
Do NOT say the insect's acidic gut activates Bt toxin — the activation requires an alkaline pH midgut environment (characteristic of lepidopteran larvae)
Do NOT say gene therapy for ADA deficiency is permanent — lymphocyte infusion requires repetition; only bone marrow transplant provides a permanent cure
Do NOT confuse ELISA and PCR — PCR detects nucleic acids $\frac{DNA}{RNA}$ ; ELISA detects proteins (antigens or antibodies)
Do NOT forget the C peptide — proinsulin contains A chain + C peptide + B chain in a single polypeptide; the C peptide is removed to produce active insulin
Do NOT say Golden Rice has beta-carotene in the bran — beta-carotene is expressed in the endosperm, the part consumed after milling
Do NOT confuse Rosie's product — Rosie (cow) produced human alpha-lactalbumin, not alpha-1-antitrypsin. Alpha-1-antitrypsin comes from transgenic sheep
Do NOT say autoradiography amplifies DNA — autoradiography only detects (hybridizes probe to target); amplification is PCR's function
Do NOT confuse GEAC's role — GEAC approves GMO field trials and commercial release; it does NOT govern gene therapy or biopiracy cases