Hi Wytze, The PCR tests have most frequently looked for the CaMV promoter gene and the Nos terminator gene but since the figwort mosaic virus is being used frequently accommodation has been required. Mostly now a coding sequence from a Bt Cry gene or from the bacterial genes used in roundup ready crops are used to detect GM pollution along with promoter and terminator. Primer sequences , as I know them, are just the sequences from a transgene, promoter or terminator used to "prime" the PCR amplification of the DNA. The ELISA test is a very sensitive use of a monoclonal antibody to bind to a particular protein, for example, the Bt Cry protein or bacterial enzyme used to make roundup ready crops. The complex is detected by ab enzyme linked to the complex. The enzyme acts on a dye or radioactive substrate to produce a color or radioactive product to detect the GM protein. ELISA is sensitive and cheep and can be used in the field to locate GM products. However, it is less sensitive than the PCR method. ELISA is designed for a known target protein , a transgene product in this case, but is not equipped to detect unknown proteins. Finally, the danger of setting "acceptable " pollution of living material with transgenes and the living organism can amplify itself rapidly.Furthermore, feed grain or raw grain for human use will be planted by poor people and their is no way around that other than genetic extremism in use of terminator. Hope this helps, Sincerely, Joe geno@ZAP.A2000.NL wrote: Hi Joe, Thanks! There's still a lot I don't understand about these testing methods. I heard every gmo has its unique identifier called a primer? Do they test on CaMV promotor or do they use all different kind of primers? Does ELISA detect any "foreign" protein? thanks in advance and best regards. wytze On 2 Aug 2003, at 10:32, joe cummins wrote: Hi Wytze, Both the PCR methods that measures minute traces of DNA and the ELISA method that measures proteins along with newer more sensitive protein measurements should push the level of detected genetic pollution to less than 1 in a million. The problem, to me seems to be the food scientists and their bureaucrats who seem incapable of thinking through the long term consequences , particularly the speed with which a few flowering plants can spread their transgenes far and wide. One has only to look at the canola problem in western Canada to see the hazard of fatuous bureaucrats and their political mouthpieces. Sincerely, Joe geno@ZAP.A2000.NL wrote:Hi Joe, Thanks for the support to push it further down. Personally I would like to see it at 0,0%. Do you know how low the LDL is at present? We may need a few years of testing before it can be established what percentage would be low enough to make sure the harvest does not end up above 0,9%? wytze On 2 Aug 2003, at 9:47, joe cummins wrote: Hi Frank and Wytze, For sown seed the only rational limit is the lowest detectable level (LDL). One in a thousand is not much better than 5 in a thousand. One appreciates how difficult it is to get rational measures (like getting blood from a stone) from obtuse and entrenched bureaucrats and their political mouthpieces, but effort must be made because once the pollution is allowed there is no way of turning it back. S sincerely, Joe geno@ZAP.A2000.NL wrote:Hi Frank, I forgot to mention that. You are right there is also a 0,5% treshold for gmo's that have been through the assessmentprocess but have not been approved yet. This is again a treshold for the endproduct. The tresholds for sowing seeds are still a proposal but the EC wants to make it official before the end of the year, so we have a few months left to lobby to lower it to a maximum of 0,1% wytze On 2 Aug 2003, at 9:10, Frank wrote: Wytze, Thank you, I thought the 0,5% was for EU unapproved GM products in grain. I did not know this was for seed to be cultivated. Frank ******************************************************** To unsubscribe from SANET-MG: 1- Visit http://lists.sare.org/archives/sanet-mg.html and unsubscribe by typing in your e-mail address or; 2- Send a message to <listserv@sare.org> from the address subscribed to the list. Type "unsubscribe sanet-mg" in the body of the message. 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