Genetically modified food products: Peculiarities of genetic identification

Abstract

Our research goal was to perform a genetic analysis of food stuffs produced in Russia in order to determine whether genetically modified components, predominantly soya, occurred in them. We also set a task to draw up an optimal list of genetic modifiers for sausages and soya products; this list was to be applied as a tool for monitoring of undeclared GMO and for providing biological safety of food stuffs. We applied polymerase chain reaction in real-time mode to analyze certain food products (sausages and soya products); the analysis was to reveal genetically modified organisms. The task was to identify the following GMO genes: promoters (p35SCaMV, P-SSuAra, Ubi1, ract1, hsp70, TA29 tobacco promoter), terminators (nos3, T-E9, T-g7, T-OCS), reporter genes (nptll, qHptFP308, bar, pat_10-P), bio-pesticides Bacillus Thuringensis (Bt) or Cry-toxins (Cry1Ab/Ac), reporter gene of β-glucuronidase (GUS-gene). Analysis of some sausage samples allowed us to identify the following GMO genes: Cry1Ab/Ac, P-FMV, P-nos, bar, gus_9-P, T-nos3, nptii, P-TA29, T-E9, T-g7, T-OCS. The research performed on food products revealed GMO in 56 % of the analyzed sausage samples. Genetic modification of the analyzed food samples had its peculiarities; a set of identified genes that included promoter genes P-FMV, terminators (nos3, T-g7, T-OCS), Cry1Ab/Ac endotoxin, and a reporter of GMO bar was one of them. We recommend to use the following candidate genes for GMO contents in food products: Cry1Ab/Ac, P-FMV, P-nos, bar, gus_9-P, T-nos3, nptii, P-TA29, T-E9, T-g7, T-OCS. They all are evidence that genetic modifications took place and they all can be applied as marker genes for control over food products safety as per GMO contents criterion.