Detection of genetically modified soybean and maize

In this study, It was aimed to analyze genetically modified organisms qualitatively by PCR analysis in imported and local soy and maize seeds, and in foodstuffs collected from different markets. DNA extractions were performed in 45 imported and 17 local maize seeds (totally 62) with 30 imported and 8 local soy seeds (totally 38), and in 7 foodstuffs using three different methods (Wizard-promega food kit, Nucleospin food kit and CTAB method), to determine the best method for each product. According to the DNA isolation results, Nucleospin food kit gave the best results. In the PCR analysis of lectin/zein gene amplification in foodstuffs, one sample included zein gene, whereas two samples contained lectin gene. Further PCR analysis included 35S promotor and Nos terminator screening and then nested PCR analysis in positive samples. As a consequence of the screening, foodstuffs and local seeds did not contained genetically modified organisms, whereas all imported soy and maize seeds were transgenic. The nested PCR analysis resulted that all imported soy seed samples contained Roundup Ready, whereas all imported maize seed samples contained Bt11. Moreover, five maize samples amplified MON810 and two of them amplified Bt176 with Bt11 as well. As a result of this study, all the imported soy and maize seed samples were genetically modified, and there has to be controls in the customs of Turkey.