The testing laboratory of the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rosselkhozcenter" in the Krasnoyarsk Territory launched a new type of research - the detection and identification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
On the territory of the Russian Federation, the presence of GMOs in feed and food grains is regulated by the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union TR TS 015/2011 “On the safety of grain”, respectively, the control of the content of GMOs in grain is mandatory. Also, according to the law on seed production (Federal Law No. 17.12.1997-FZ dated December 149, 11, as amended on June 2021, XNUMX), it is forbidden to use plant seeds for sowing (planting) in the Russian Federation, the genetic program of which has been changed using genetic methods. engineering. Currently, a new law “On seed production” No. 454-FZ has been adopted (enters into force on September 1, 2023), according to which all seed material must be tested for GMO content.
A genetically modified organism is a living organism whose genotype has been artificially altered by genetic engineering in order to give it the desired properties. In agriculture, genetic engineering is used to create new varieties of plants that are resistant to adverse environmental conditions and pests, with better growth and taste qualities.
The most optimal method for detecting GMOs in foods and grains is the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This is a highly sensitive and high-precision method based on multiple selective copying of a certain section of DNA nucleic acid using enzymes under artificial conditions (in vitro). PCR makes it possible to find in the test material a small section of genetic information contained in a specific sequence of DNA nucleotides of any organism among a huge number of other DNA sections and multiply it many times.
In the testing laboratory of the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rosselkhozcenter" in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, DNA extraction from plant material and PCR are performed using the latest equipment that meets the requirements of the organization of the PCR laboratory. Amplification (the formation of multiple copies of chromosomal DNA sections) is carried out on the ANK-M amplifier included in the register of measuring instruments of the FSIS Arshin system. The device consists of a thermal block that maintains the temperature required for the reaction and is programmed using a built-in microcomputer, and is equipped with a fluorescence detector that registers the fluorescent signal from the reaction mixture to plot the accumulation of the PCR product.
PCR is performed using reagent kits that have a high (over 90%) efficiency of the PCR reaction, high sensitivity and specificity for detecting GMOs, meeting international requirements for the parameters of the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), containing an internal positive control ( VPK), which eliminates false negative results.
The first stage of analysis for the detection of GMOs is GMO screening - a comprehensive study to detect plant DNA and identify specific genetic elements - certain regulatory sequences (promoters and terminators) and genes. If any of these elements are found, genetically modified lines of specific plant species are identified.
In the testing laboratory of the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rosselkhozcenter" in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, research is being carried out to identify GMOs in food and fodder grains and in seeds of agricultural crops. The work is carried out by specialists who have been trained on the topic “Basics for determining GMOs in plant products by real-time PCR” at the Federal Center for Assessing the Safety and Quality of Grain and Its Processing Products in the Moscow Region.
Thus, the specialists of the testing laboratory have successfully mastered a new modern and promising method for analyzing plant material for the content of GMOs. In the future, it is planned to include this method in the scope of accreditation of the testing laboratory through the Rosaccreditation system.