Detection of genetically modified organisms in selected food products not containing soy

BSc student: Ahmed Adzemovic 

Mentor: Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yildirim

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is a unifying term for organisms that contain altered genetic information, artificially modified by means of genetic engineering. There exists a need for tracking and identifying GMO products in the contemporary Bosnian market. In the current study, we isolated DNA from 9 different processed food products purchased from various supermarkets and do not contain any soy ingredients on their product label. The isolated DNA was evaluated and screened for its quantity and quality. The DNA was screened for the existence of a soy-specific marker – endogenous soy lectin gene and a transgenic GTS 40-3-2 marker characteristic of the RRTM soy line. Eight out of nine products were shown to contain quantifiable amounts of the lectin target 4 were shown to contain the genetic elements characteristic of the RRTM soy line. Three out of four products contained the transgenic element in a proportion well-above the EU-installed threshold. More extensive and thorough research needs to be done to confirm and extend our findings to a wider spectrum of products. The results of these studies will help form novel policies and regulations that will bridge the quality gap between our domestic and European food markets.