Consider the following statements about viruses: 1. The tobacco mosaic virus was the first virus discovered. 2. Viruses can have a protein coat called capsid. 3. Viruses can reproduce outside host cells. Which of the above is/are correct? MCQ with Answer and Explanation

Explanation:
Transcription, catalyzed by RNA polymerase, copies the genetic information from a DNA template into a complementary mRNA strand. Translation is protein synthesis.

Explanation:
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is widely used as a biopesticide, specifically a bioinsecticide. The spores of Bt contain crystalline proteins (Cry toxins) that are toxic to the larvae of many insects, particularly Lepidoptera (caterpillars), Diptera (flies), and Coleoptera (beetles). When sprayed on crops or ingested by transgenic plants, these toxins kill the pests without harming humans, animals, or beneficial insects.

Explanation:
The stomach's gastric glands secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl), which creates an acidic medium necessary for the activation of pepsin and kills ingested microbes. The small intestine, with its vast surface area provided by villi and microvilli, is the primary site for the digestion and absorption of most nutrients into the bloodstream. The large intestine primarily absorbs water, electrolytes, and some vitamins produced by gut bacteria, but not the majority of nutrients. Thus, statements 1 and 2 are correct.