Gene volume accelerates
A method of multiplying the volume of genes at twice the speed of current systems has been developed by Nichirei Corp., of Japan. It is claimed the new technology is capable of detecting smaller amounts of genes of virus or micro-organisms contained in blood or food than current methods. Researchers modified the polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) method, widely used to increase the volume of target genetic DNA several hundred thousand times, by adding artificial DNA to test samples. They found the volume of the copied DNA can be increased by adding a specific chemical compound to one end of the artificial DNA strand.
The development is expected to help researchers find very small levels of micro-organisms, which cannot be detected using current methods. The PCR method is commonly used to check for the presence of GMOs in food as well as to detect E. coli bacteria.