Experts Develop CRISPR-based Biosensor for GM Maize

Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology researchers and their partners used CRISPR-Cas12a to develop a groundbreaking biosensor technology for efficiently detecting genetically modified (GM) crops. This breakthrough is reported in Analytica Chimica Acta.

Advances in agriculture have been recorded since the release of genetically engineered crops. The regulation of such crops is dependent on detection techniques. Thus, a sensitive and accurate detection tool is crucial. To detect MON810, the most widely used GM maize globally, the experts employed a DNA tetrahedron as a scaffold that improved the stability and efficiency of the reactions happening at the electrode. The biosensor then targets specific locations in the transgene, making it more precise than real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Tests have confirmed that using the biosensor leads to high specificity, rapid detection, and accurate results, providing promising solutions to the on-site detection of GM crops.

Read the research article for more findings.