Genetically Modified Corn

In 1994, no farm acreage in the U.S. had been planted with genetically modified corn plants, but today more than 70% of all 91 million acres of corn in the U.S. are planted with genetically modified varieties. Genetic modification of corn has been conducted for a wide variety of reasons. Some corn has been modified to become more herbicide tolerant (HT). This GE variety of corn is often referred to as HT corn. Other corn has been modified to become more insect resistant. This GE variety of corn is often referred to as Bt corn. Bt corn gets its name from the transfer of a gene from the soil bacterium,orBacillus thuringiensis, into the corn. A protein toxin produced by this bacterium helps to kill certain insects that might otherwise eat the corn.