To promote the development and safety assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in China, we characterized the molecular features of more than twenty GMOs in China, and developed the effective approach for analysis of GMOs and their derived products. Totally, five plant-specific endogenous reference genes, LAT52 in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), Sad1 in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), high-mobility-group protein I/Y (HMG-I/Y) in rapeseed (Brassica napus), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) in rice, and Chymopapain (CHY) in papaya (Carica papaya L.) were validated and developed for qualitative and quantitative identification of tomato, cotton, rapeseed, rice and papaya respectively. Also tomato Lat52 and rice SPS systems have been validated to be suitable endogenous reference genes for GM tomato and rice detection by international collaborative ring trials.Also 16 methods we developed have been validated at the national levels, and accepted to be national standards. 

Since more than one hundred events of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been developed and approved for commercialization in global area, the GMO analysis methods are essential for the enforcement of GMO labelling regulations. Protein and nucleic acid-based detection techniques have been developed and utilized for GMOs identification and quantification. However, the information for harmonization and standardization of GMO analysis methods at global level is needed. We developed GMO Detection method Database (GMDD) which has collected almost all the previous developed and reported GMOs detection methods. In this database, users can obtain the sequences of exogenous integration, which will facilitate PCR primers and probes design. Also the information on endogenous genes, certified reference materials, reference molecules, and the validation status of developed methods is included in this database. Furthermore, registered users can also submit new detection methods and sequences to this database, and the newly submitted information will be released soon after being checked. It is available at http://gmdd.shgmo.org.