Detection and quantitation of genetically modified maize (Bt-176 transgenic maize) by applying ligation detection reaction and universal array technology

We have applied the ligation detection reaction (LDR) combined with a universal array approach to the detection and quantitation of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified cry1A(b) gene from Bt-176 transgenic maize. We demonstrated excellent specificity and high sensitivity. Down to 0.5 fmol (nearly 60 pg) of PCR amplified transgenic material was unequivocally detected with excellent linearity within the 0.1-2.0% range with respect to wild-type maize. We suggest the feasibility of extending the LDR/universal array format to detect in parallel several transgenic sequences that are being developed for food applications.