来自喜马拉雅山的土壤、从冰岛上汽车档上掉下的土壤或甚至猫脚上走过的土壤都可能将害虫置于死地。美国农业部的科学家从他们度假的朋友们所带回的各地土壤中发现了Bt(Bacillus thuringiensis,苏云金杆菌)的72种新品种。Bt是一种天然杀虫剂。另外三个品种——两种是来自马里兰州巴尔的摩附近,一种是来自怀俄明州杰克逊的斯内克河——正在准备申请专利。据美国农业部的农业研究处的遗传学家菲里斯A.W.马丁 The soil from the Himalayas, the soil that has fallen from the car’s gear on Iceland, or even the soil that walks on the feet of cats can put the pests to death. Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have discovered 72 new varieties of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) from soils brought back by their holiday friends. Bt is a natural insecticide. Three other species - two from Baltimore, Maryland and one from the Snake River in Jackson, WY - are preparing to apply for a patent. According to the geneticist of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Philips A. W. Martin