IMMUNOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Attempts to Detect Transgenic and Endogenous Plant DNA and Transgenic Protein in Muscle from Broilers Fed YieldGard1 Corn Borer Corn

Questions regarding the digestive fate of DNA and protein from transgenic grain have been raised in regard to human consumption and trade of animal products (e.g., meat, milk, and eggs) from farm animals fed transgenic crops. Using highly sensitive, fully charac- terized analytical methods, fragments of transgenic and endogenous plant DNA, as well as transgenic protein, were not detected in chicken breast muscle samples from animals fed YieldGard Corn Borer Corn event MON 810 (YG). Total DNA was extracted from breast muscle sam- ples from chickens fed for 42 d with a diet including either 55 to 60% YG grain or 55 to 60% conventional corn grain. DNA preparations were analyzed by PCR followed by Southern blot hybridization for the presence of a 211-