The reason for the company's success is its hold over the genetics testing market. IG develops products that perform pre-natal tests for inherited diseases like Lou Gehrig's disease and cystic fibrosis. The company has come under heavy criticism for the tests which offer jiffy results in a couple of days. But company President Elliott Hillback defended the tests, saying they could prevent diseases and therefore keep health care costs down. Bt has been used as a natural insecticide for 30 years.
Recent reports indicate that certain pests are becoming resistant to the bacteria.
USDA scientists say that pests may be less resistant to one type of Bt over another. Researcher Donovan Johnson said that Indianmeal moths showed greater resistance to types of Bt that produce more complex toxins. The moths were less resistant to BT that had a narrower range of toxins. In addition to changing types of BT, Johnson also recommended using mixtures of Bt and rotating the toxin dosage. The map is scaled accurately, without emphasizing the size of the North, and lays out the 12 Centers of Crop Genetic Diversity of the world's 20 most important food plants.