The Fate of Recombinant DNA and Protein in the Mammalian Gastrointestinal

When a new gene is transferred into a plant genome، typically produce a new protein. Sometimes the proteins expressed in transgenic plants can be entirely new in human diet. Therefore، the stability of transgenes and recombinant proteins or their digested segments by gastrointestinal (GI) tract and other tissues of humans and animals consuming GM food may be an important issue in food safety of GMO food and feeds. The stability of DNA fragments of foods and feeds and the uptake of DNA fragments by bacteria and epithelial cells has been studied in all regions of the digestive tract of animals. GI tract is containing a variety of microorganisms which can absorb the DNA released from the digested food (as a result of physical، chemical and enzymatic digestion in GI tract). Phenotypical، structural and functional changes can be observed if the modified genes translated to a functional protein. The purpose of this report is to review the researches on the fate of Recombinant DNA and proteins in GI tract of animals. The results showed that the most of DNA released by foods and feeds digested to small segments. Moreover، the results reflect differences in the degradation of processed food in the GI tract of Different animals. All DNA، including the DNA from GMOs، is composed of the same four nucleotides، meaning that the present use of recombinant techniques in the food chain does not introduce major changes in the chemical. There are no more concerns for the presence of recombinant DNA in GMO foods and feeds.