From Seed to Seed:
Plant Science for K-8 Educators

Bacillus thuringiensis. Genetic engineers have relatively recently discovered how to identify and isolate genes that are responsible for disease resistance in one organism and transfer them to a second disease-susceptible organism. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis-and the BT gene-represents one example. Scientists have transferred the BT gene-a gene that is responsible for killing the larvae of butterflies and moths-into plants to protect the plants from insect damage. Although this plant-microbe relationship requires human intervention, it still pleads the case for the "good microbes."

By now you've gotten the point-not all microbes are bad, and some are very, very good. Perhaps you've heard the adage, "Feed the soil, and the soil will feed the plants." Now you know that when you and your students take care of your soil, you are taking care of the millions and millions of microbes that live there. And you won't want to do anything to the soil that might harm this important, if invisible, community.

Now we're done with our cheerleading-and you feel all warm and fuzzy toward our microbe friends, right? Think again.

Would you like to know more?
Additional Online Resources

• United States Department of Agriculture: Science 4 Kids-Agricultural ideas for science fair projects, including experiments on seeds, fruit ripening, nutrition and microorganisms.
  www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideasframe.htm