Transgenic plants

Recently, scientists have genetically engineered transgenic crop plant to release neurotoxins to kill insects and grubs that are now very resistant to insecticides. They have been looking to using funnel web spider venom where the peptide toxin(atracotoxin) which stops the release of calcium ion in the synapse of the nerves which antagonises the synaptic transmission where the peptide chain form intrachain disulfide bridges which has been shown to inhibit the insects and kill them. The toxin has been cultured in bacteria where the strain has been inserted in the plant's genome so the plant can produce the toxins to kill the pests. This has been useful form cotton as the has been used to stop grubs from eating the cotton bulb of the plant and ruining the plant. The toxin doesn't harm mammals so it does affect human and it's a natural solution so its environmentally friendly. They are now looking into finding a toxin from spiders that is less specific than what has currently been used so it can be used more widely for alternative uses.