Abstract
As a consequence of rapid progress in agricultural biotechnology, increasing amounts of genetically modified (GM) crops have entered the food and feed chain in recent years. The aim of our study, which conducted during 2000-2001, was to monitor the incidence of Roundup Ready(TM) soyabean (RRS) and the GM maize lines Bt176, Bt11, T25, MON810 and StarLink in Egypt. With the exception of StarLink(TM), which was approved only for feed use, the other constructs were approved for use as food and/or feed in the US and other countries. Fifty one soyabean samples and 61 maize samples were randomly collected from different localities in Egypt. The detection techniques applied were based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using validated, official detection methods according to Article 35 of the German Federal Foodstuffs Act. The results of our survey showed that all soyabean samples imported from Argentina, and 50% of American soyabean samples contained RRS. Of the 20 maize samples imported from USA, 16 contained Bt176, 17 Bt11, 12 MON810, 19 T25 and 9 StarLinkTm. In addition, of the 7 maize samples imported from Argentina, 4 contained Bt176 and MON810, 5 T25, 6 Bt11 and 2 StarLink(TM). In contrast, all Egyptian local varieties of soyabean and maize were non transgenic
Highlights
Biotechnology offers enormous potential for world agriculture
51 soyabean samples and 61 maize samples were randomly collected from different localities in Egypt and subjected to detection techniques based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using the official detection methods according to Article 35 of the German Federal Foodstuffs Act
The primer pair genetically modified (GM) 03/GM 04 is specific for the single copy lectin gene LE1 and yields a PCR product of 118 bp size (Meyer et al, 1996)
Summary
Biotechnology offers enormous potential for world agriculture. This includes the production of higher yields with decreasing use of herbicides and pesticides, the resistance to insects, diseases, abiotic stresses and improved nutritional characteristics (Flachowsky and Aulrich, 2001). Because there is no CRM available for maize lines MON810 and T25, samples containing 1% GMO were prepared in the laboratory from these lines and used as positive control. The primer pair GM 03/GM 04 is specific for the single copy lectin gene LE1 and yields a PCR product of 118 bp size (Meyer et al, 1996).
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