Screening of genetically modified Corn Zea mays in Iraqi market

Abstract

Detection of the genetically modified crops could be done by screening certain markers usually used in modification. In this study polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology was used to investigate the presence of the promoter P35s and nos terminator in the genetically modified corn Zea mays. 72 samples of the maize crop collected from inside Iraqi market from various sources, including imported crops and other local strains used for agriculture or for the production of animal feed. DNA extracted from the corn seeds by two methods, the efficiency of extraction was compared between the two procedures, the purity of DNA samples extracted ranged between 1.4- 1.8 of the samples studied, while the ranged values for concentrations ranged from (500-2400) ng /µl, specificity of the DNA extracted was confirmed using Zea mays specific gene responsible for production of Zein protein, a storage protein. Results shows that all the samples were positive for this gene, results of the investigation of sequence responsible for regulating gene expression for promoter P35s and T-nos terminator, should that 10 samples 13.9% of the total 72 samples studied are genetically modified and gave positive results for the amplification of PCR using primers specialized for each of the P35s and T-nos. The results indicated that (9 out of 47) represent 19.14% of the samples studied imported for the government institutions were genetically modified. Multiplex PCR technique used for the detection of two types of the targets at the same reaction to reduce the time and efforts. Multiplex PCR successfully applied for two combinations of either zein and P35s or zein and nos.