PCR-Analysis
Each species as well as genetically modified organisms contain unique characteristics. This distinctive features can be identified on the level of the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
Many areas of biomedical research, diagnostics and routine examinations are no longer imaginable without molecular biological methods. These are becoming increasingly important in analytical chemistry for food and feed testing too, especially the PCR method. For instance, in most cases it would be impossible to detect evidence of genetically modified organisms (GMO) without PCR, which is why this is made imperative in national and EU-wide regulations.
The genetic make-up of all organisms consists of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), a very long double-strand molecule consisting of a repetition of just four basic nucleotide building blocks – adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine. The precise sequence of these building blocks differs from organism to organism. The more remote the relationship between organisms, the greater the difference in their DNA sequence. These differences represent the basis for identifying different species. Independently of the nature of the sample to be analysed, the examination generally comprises three steps.