What is a GMO?

2. What is a GMO? "genetically modified organism (GMO)" defines an organism in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination Typically plant modifications.

3. USDA Approval for GM food crops • Corn • Soy • Papaya • alphalfa • Canola • Potato • Chicory • Rice • Squash • Sugarbeet • Tomatoes • Approval does not necessarily mean these crops are distributed • Database of GM crops: www.cera-gmc.org/?action=gm_crop_database& Which foods contain GM product?

4. Which foods contain GM product? Sources: 1996-1999 Fernandez and McBride, 2000-2004: USDA, National Agriculture Statistics Service, Acreage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food

5. Why test for GMO’s? • Legislation • US: food labeled “GM-Free” <5% GM • EU: food labeled “GM” if >1% GM • Japan: food labeled “GM” if >5% • No requirement to identify food as GMO in Canada or US. • Required to note nutritional information not whether GMO (US and Canada) • Export • What about unlabeled food?

6. Why have GM crops? • Growing human population • Loss of farmable land • Remediation of soil • Enrich nutrient content

7. Desirable Traits • Pest Resistance • Herbicide Tolerance • Viral Resistance • Drought Resistance • Increased Nutritional Value • Improved Fruit • Altered Ripening

8. Opponents argue • Creation of super pests • Creation of super weeds • Loss of biodiversity • Biotechnology companies control agriculture • Health concerns ---allergy to protein produced

9. Method for Genetic Modification of Crops • Choose desirable trait • Clone the gene • Engineer the gene • Transform gene into plant • Backcross GM plant into high yield crops

10. Choose desirable trait • Pest Resistance: Bt crops • Bacillus thuringiensis protein is a delta endotoxin which kills corn borers • HerbicideTolerance: Round Up Ready crops • Agrobacterium tumifaciens protein with resistance to Round Up herbicide (glyphosate) Bacillus thuringiensis Delta endotoxin crystal

11. Transform gene into plant Isolate plant cells Grow undifferentiated callus Transform cells Select cells Grow transgenic plant Redifferentiate callus

12. How to test for GMOs ELISA: Test for presence of proteins expressed from genetic modifications Pro: Quick, cheap, low tech Con: Crop specific, protein stability PCR: Test for presence of inserted foreign DNA Pro: ID different GM crops, DNA stability Con: Expensive, timely

13. How to test for GMOs • Test for GMOs by PCR: • Grind food • Extract DNA from sample • Test sample DNA for viable plant DNA • Test sample DNA for genetic modifications

14. PCR

15. Which foods yield viable plant DNA?

16. Why use CaMV 35S and NOS? CaMV 35S – Sequence for the promoter of 35S transcript of the Cauliflower mosaic virus. Used because it functions in every plant cell NOS- Sequence fornopaline synthase terminator from soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefacians Used because it evolved to be recognized in most plants

17. Extract DNA from food

18. Grinding food to release DNA • InstaGene chelates divalent ions (e.g. Mg2+) necessary for DNA degrading enzymes (e.g. DNases) • Only 50 μl of food transferred otherwise InstaGene is overwhelmed (~ 5 mg of original material) • Boiling releases DNA from food into the InstaGene solution • Pellet InstaGene and food debris because InstaGene inhibits PCR reaction (Taq needs Mg++) Why these steps? Mg++ Mg++ Mg++ Mg++ Mg++ Mg++ Mg++ Mg++ InstaGene

19. Set up PCR reactions

21. What is needed for PCR? The PCR ReactionWhat do you need? • Template -the DNA to be amplified • Primers -2 short specific pieces of DNA whose sequence flanksthe target sequence • Forward • Reverse • Nucleotides -dATP, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP • Magnesium chloride -enzyme cofactor • Buffer -maintains pH & contains salt • Taq DNA polymerase – thermophillic enzyme from hot springs

22. Heat (94oC) to denature DNA strands Cool (59oC) to anneal primers to template Warm (72oC) to activate Taq polymerase, which extends primers and replicates DNA Repeat 40 cycles The PCR ReactionHow does it work?

23. Bacillus thuringiensis Clone the gene Delta endotoxin crystal Bt gene ori Ti plasmid Ti genes

24. GO STOP Engineer the gene Bt gene ori Ti plasmid Ti genes Antibiotic resistance

25. Backcross GM plant into high yield crops YYgg x yyGG YyGg YYgG YygG YYgg Yygg YYgg x YyGg GM plant = yyGG High yield plant = YYgg YYgG YYgg YYGg YYGG YYgG x YYgG

26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Analysis of Results GMO positive 1: non-GMO food with plant primers 2: non-GMO food with GMO primers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3: Test food with plant primers 4: Test food with GMO primers GMO negative 5: GMO positive template with plant primers 6: GMO positive template with GMO primers 7: PCR MW Ruler

27. GMO Investigator KitLab Extensions • Independent studies • Data Mining/Bioinformatics for specific genes • E.g. Design primers to the cry genes in Bt corn • Testing for blended foods

28. Trouble shooting • False Positives • Contamination-sterile technique; 10% bleach to clean pipette barrels, mortars & pestles, bench tops; barrier tips for all steps. • False Negatives • No DNA extracted • Possible food type or possibly primers do not work on that plant species • InstaGene matrix transferred to PCR reactions

29. GMO Investigator Kit contents • Bio-Rad certified Non-GMO food • InstaGene • Master Mix • GMO primers • Plant PSII primers • GMO & PSII positive control DNA • PCR MW Ruler • DPTPs, microtubes, PCR tubes, foam floats • Manual • Not Included but required: • Thermal cycler • Water bath/heat block • Electrophoresis Module (agarose, TAE buffer & Fast Blast DNA stain) • Electrophoresis equipment & power supply • 2-20 ul pipettes & barrier tips