Reliability of PCR based screening for identification and quantification of GMOs.

摘要

Reliability of PCR based screening methods to detect GM material in soybean samples was investigated, using the 35S cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter as the target sequence. Soybeans grown from a non-GM cultivar as declared by a seed company were investigated after harvest and transport to the silo, as well as before processing. Results, based on PCR and real-time PCR analysis, clearly showed that contamination with the debris of other species and dust during transport, storage and other types of handling led to contamination with detectable amounts of CaMV. Such impurities are allowed by EC regulations, but may as this study suggests, interfere with PCR-based analytical procedures. Identification of the 35S CaMV promoter and NOS terminator in foods with uncertain history and no approved specific events may indicate the presence of unknown GMOs and perhaps lead to an emergency situation.