Scientists Publish qPCR Method for Commercial Gene-Edited Canola

A team of scientists from the United States and New Zealand published a paper to unveil a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method they developed specifically for the first commercialized genome-edited crop: a herbicide tolerant canola.

The qPCR method is highly sensitive and compatible with practices done in laboratories that handle genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It was also designed to be integrated into analytical workflows such as the matrix approach. Moreover, the method meets all legal requirements for GMO analytical methods as per the European Union and ISO 17025 standards.

According to the scientists who developed the method, their findings suggest that the qPCR-based method may be applicable to virtually any genome-edited organism. This new method may contribute to the feasibility of extending the regulatory approach currently used for recombinant DNA-based GMOs to genome-edited organisms, which is important in addressing the regulatory enforcement and traceability of genetically edited crops in terms of biosafety, environmental impacts, and socio-economic impacts.

The full methodology can be read in Foods.