PTC&B Detection of Maize Intrinsic and Recombinant Cry1Ab Gene Fragment in Genetically Modified Maize

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was performed to detect and identify the genetically modified maize (Bt11). Primer pair Bt11 1-5 ΄ and Cry1Ab 1-3΄ detected the region of the insect resistant Cry1Ab gene sequence inserted in GM Bt11 maize and a primer pair ZE01-ZE02 were used to detect the maize intrinsic zein (Ze1) gene in maize DNA. The presence of the corresponding DNA segments was specifically detected in GM maize by the designed primers. It was concluded that this method is useful for fast and easy screening of Bt gene in the food products and GM Bt crops. The methods of plant genetic transformation are applied for the insertion of genes of interest into specific crop plants for their improvement (Estruch et al. 1997). These transformed plants are commonly known as genetically modified plants or GM plants. A number of GM plants have already been developed for commercial use in different parts of the world (James 2006). Before commercialization, the expression of the introduced trait(s) is needed to be assayed. This detection of the expression of genetically modified trait is essential not only to determine the existence of transgenes in crop plants before commercial exploitation but also to satisfy the required biosafety protocols for the safeguard of human and animal health as well as in protecting the environment. Thus, for the safety assessment of GM products detection of genetically modified trait is very important and it is regarded as the first step of the safety assessment procedure and also for the identification of GM and non-GM plants and their products. Freeze-dried flour from genetically modified (GM) maize and non-GM (Bt11) maize isoline were used as GM and non-GM reference materials for the present study. Genomic DNA was isolated from maize grain powder using phenolchloroform isoamyl method and also carried out using Wizard R Genomic DN