Licenciada

Biotechnology Advances 27 (2009) 1071–1082

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Biotechnology Advances
j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / b i o t e c h a d v

Research review paper

Testing for genetically modified organisms (GMOs): Past, present and
future perspectives
Arne Holst-Jensen ⁎
Department of Feed and Food Safety, NationalVeterinary Institute, Ullevaalsveien 68, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo, Norway

article

info

abstract
This paper presents an overview of GMO testing methodologies and how these have evolved and may evolve
in the next decade. Challenges and limitations for the application of the test methods as well as to the
interpretation of results produced with the methods are highlighted anddiscussed, bearing in mind the
various interests and competences of the involved stakeholders. To better understand the suitability and
limitations of detection methodologies the evolution of transformation processes for creation of GMOs is
briefly reviewed.
© 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Available online 27 May 2009
Keywords:
Transgenic crops
Detection
Identification
QuantificationTransformation
Quality assurance
High throughput
Validation
Unapproved GMO
Intragenics

Contents
1.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.
Stakeholder roles and responsibilities
3.
Development and evolution of GMOs
4.
Method development and availability
5.
Unauthorised GMOs . . . . . . . .
6.
Future perspectives . . . . . . . .
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

..
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

1. Introduction
Gene technology as a technology ispotentially a short way to
improving domesticated plants and animals, mainly because it can
bypass biological barriers for recombination and genetic exchange
across unrelated species by creating transgenes. However, from a
societal point of view this technology is seen by many as a derail
rather than a short way, as many still do not feel that the safety of the
technology is conclusivelydemonstrated. Like any other technology,
the gene technology has a potential for hostile abuse or unsafe use.
Because of its wide ranging potential, the public perception of the
technology has also affected the regulation of the technology and the
testing requirements; — to an extent more comparable to medical

⁎ Tel.: +47 2321 6243; fax: +47 2321 6202.
E-mail address:arne.holst-jensen@vetinst.no.
0734-9750/$ – see front matter © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2009.05.025

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
..
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
..
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

1071
1072
1073
1076
1077
1078
1078

drugs than to any other food related production technology, at least in
some parts of the world.
The first commercial genetically modified (GM) plant (the FlavrSavr
tomato) was authorised for marketing in 1994 (Food and Drug...