Korean Scientists Developed an Event-Specific DNA Microarray To Identify Genetically Modified Organisms in Processed Foods


2010. 5. 4


Korean researchers have developed an event-specific DNA microarray system to identify 19 types of genetically modified organisms. The discovery by Professor Kim Hae-yeong and his colleagues at Korea’s Kyung Hee University is expected to help detect genetically modified organisms in biotech crops including two GM soybeans (GTS-40-3-2 and A2704-12), thirteen GM maizes (Bt176, Bt11, MON810, MON863, NK603, GA21, T25, TC1507, Bt10, DAS59122-7, TC6275, MIR604, and LY038), three GM canolas (GT73, MS8×RF3, and T45), and one GM cotton (LLcotton25).

The microarray includes 27 types of oligonucleotide probes optimized to identify endogenous reference targets, event-specific targets, screening targets (35S promoter and nos terminator), and an internal target (18S rRNA gene).

The researchers employed the microarray system to test 37 maize-containing food products purchased from South Korean and US markets for the presence of GM maize. Thirteen GM maize events were detected at one time at a limit of detection of approximately 0.5 percent by using the microarray on a single chip and multiplex PCR. 

Thirteen GM maize events were simultaneously detected using multiplex PCR coupled with microarray on a single chip, at a limit of detection of approximately 0.5%. Professor Kim’s team confirmed the presence of GM maize in 11 of the 37 food samples tested. These results suggest that an event-specific DNA microarray system can reliably detect GMOs in processed foods.