VDI 4331 Blatt 2:2013-08

Extracted nucleic acids from soil can provide the source material for detecting microorganisms living in soil and can help determining their diversity. Soil nucleic acids can also be used to detect plant genes, for example transgenic DNA (recombinant genes) from genetically modified plants. The standard describes the basic principles and gives sample protocols for the extraction of nucleic acids from soil. This standard describes the quality requirements for the analysis of agricultural soils in order to determine the effects of the release or cultivation of genetically modified organisms and the associated changes in land use on the structure and function of microbial communities. Methods described also have the capacity to detect transgenic DNA (recombinant genes) entering soil through genetically modified organisms by qualitative or quantitative means.