Detection of commercialized plant products derived from new genomic techniques (NGT) - Practical examples and current perspectives

Abstract

New genomic techniques (NGT) are increasingly applied in plant research and development in many countries due to their simplicity in introducing genetic modifications that alter specific traits. First NGT products are on the market in several countries where no specific regulatory approval is required. In the European Union (EU), however, all NGT derived products are subject to the existing genetically modified organism (GMO) authorization regulations. This nourishes the discussion on the technical and analytical feasibility of detecting, identifying and differentiating plants produced by targeted mutagenesis from conventional breeding products and spontaneous mutations in routine food/feed and seed/grain testing by enforcement laboratories. The anticipated difficulties are currently based mainly on theoretical considerations, particularly with regard to single nucleotide or very limited sequence changes. Against that background, this brief review examines concrete and practical approaches for the detection and identification of market-relevant NGT plants. Four early commercialized NGT plants have been examined as real examples to verify the feasibility of detection method design and development using routinely applied analytical approaches. In addition, we searched for potential new screening approaches and show, how a common and well conserved genetic element used in CRISPR/Cas9 applications may serve as a potential target, if this foreign DNA element is still integrated in the host genome. The conclusions to be drawn from the considered theoretical approaches and the practical examples are described in the context of key differences to the current GMO testing practice, in particular regarding the difficulty to develop methods specifically identifying NGT applications. Finally, we discuss whether the consideration of such factors could facilitate a resolution of the current dilemma between detection and the ability to identify plant NGT events.