• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.514-519
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• 2016

Korean cattle (Hanwoo) are categorized into three breeds based on color: brown, brindle, and black. Among these breeds, brown Hanwoo has been subjected to intensive selection to improve meat traits. To identify genetic traces driven by recent selection in brown Hanwoo, we scanned the genomes of brown and brindle Hanwoo using a bovine SNP chip. We identified 17 candidate selection signatures in brown Hanwoo and sequenced four candidate regions from 10 individuals each of brown and brindle Hanwoo. In particular, non-synonymous SNPs in the ADSL gene (K88M, L189H, and R302Q) might have had mutational effects on protein structure as a result of altering the purine pathway during nucleotide breakdown. The ADSL gene was previously reported to affect meat quality and yield in livestock. Meat quality and yield are main breeding goals for brown Hanwoo, and our results support a potential causal influence of non-synonymous SNPs in the ADSL gene.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2005

Mass selection (MS) is an efficient selection method to directly improve highly heritable traits. In the present study, two cycles of MS for ear length were conducted on two sweet corn populations, BC2-l0 and $BC1-10{\times}Syn-II$ after introgression of exotic germplasm. The improved populations generated from these selections were evaluated in comparison with the base populations at two locations, to determine the genetic gains and performance of the improved populations. The two base populations showed varied average realized responses to MS. In BC2-l0 derived population, the realized responses were $9.1\%$ in BC2-l0 C1 and $1.2\%$ in BC2-l0 C2, whereas in$BC1-10{\times}Syn-II$ derived population, the realized responses were$ 5.6\%$ in $BC1-10{\times}Syn-II$ C1 and $2.9\%$ in $BC1-10{\times}Syn-II$ C2. All the improved populations showed longer ears than their respective base populations and the check varieties. Ear length, which was used as the selection criterion in this study, showed high broad-sense heritability in the BC2-l0 and $BC1-10{\times}Syn-II$ derived populations, while fresh ear yield revealed low heritability, indicating that selection for ear length in these populations would be more effective than direct selection for yield. Results of this study indicate that MS conducted on BC2­10 and $BC1-10{\times}Syn-II$ had significantly increased ear length and fresh ear yield in both populations. The improved populations obtained would serve as better germplasm sources and further selection in these populations could offer better responses.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2013

A crucial first step in the planning of any scientific experiment is to evaluate an appropriate sample size to permit sufficient statistical power to detect the desired effect. In this study, we investigated the optimal sample size of quantitative trait locus (QTL) linkage analysis for simple random sibship samples in pedigreed chicken populations, under the variance component framework implemented in the genetic power calculator program. Using the program, we could compute the statistical power required to achieve given sample sizes in variance component linkage analysis in random sibship data. For simplicity, an additive model was taken into account. Power calculations were performed to relate sample size to heritability attributable to a QTL. Under the various assumptions, comparative power curves indicated that the power to detect QTL with the variance component method is highly affected by a function of the effect size of QTL. Hence, more power can be achievable for QTL with a larger effect. In addition, a marked improvement in power could be obtained by increasing the sibship size. Thus, the use of chickens is advantageous regarding the sampling unit issue, since desirable sibship size can be easily obtained compared with other domestic species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.155-157
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• 2001

Bifidobacterium spp. is nonpathogenic, gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria, which inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. In breast-fed infants, bifidobacteria comprise morethan 90％ of the gut bacterial population. Bifidobacteria spp. are used in commericial fermented dairy products and have been suggested to exert health promoting effects on the host by maintaining intestinal microflora balances, improving lactose tolerance, reducing serum cholesterol levels, increasing synthesis of vitamins, and aiding the immune enchancement and anticarcinogenic activity for the host. These beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium are strain-related. Therefore continued efforts to improve strain characteristics are warranted. in these respect, development of vector system for Bifidobacterium is very important not only for the strain improvement but also because Bifidobacterium is most promising in serving as a delivery system for the useful gene products, such as vaccine or anticarcinogenic polypeptides, into human intestinal tract. For developing vector system, we have characterized several bifidobacterial plasmids at genetic level and developed several shuttle vectors between E. coli and Bifidobacterium using them. Also, we have cloned and sequenced several metabolic genes and food grade selection marker. Also we have obtained bifidobacterial surface protein, which will be used as the mediator for surface display of foreign genes. Recently we have succeeded in expressing amylase and GFP in Bifidobacterium using our own expression vector system. Now we are in a very exciting stage for the molecular breeding and safe delivery system using probiotic Bifidobacterium strains.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2011

This study describes an efficient protocol for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of two subgroups of genotype AAA bananas (Musa acuminata cv. Pei Chiao and Musa acuminata cv. Gros Michel). Instead of using suspension cells, cauliflower-like bud clumps, also known as multiple bud clumps (MBC), were induced from sucker buds on MS medium containing $N^6$-Benzylaminopurine (BA), Thidiazuron (TDZ), and Paclobutrazol (PP333). Bud slices were co-cultivated with A. tumefaciens C58C1 or EHA105 that carry a plasmid containing Arabidopsis root-type ferredoxin gene (Atfd3) and a plant ferredoxin-like protein (pflp) gene, respectively. These two strains showed differences in transformation efficiency. The EHA105 strain was more sensitive in Pei Chiao, 51.3% bud slices were pflp-transformed, and 12.6% slices were Atfd3-transformed. Gros Michel was susceptible to C58C1 and the transformation efficiency is 4.4% for pflp and 13.1% for Atfd3. Additionally, gene integration of the putative pflp was confirmed by Southern blot. Resulting from the pathogen inoculation assay, we found that the pflp transgenic banana exhibited resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4. This protocol is highly advantageous to banana cultivars that have difficulties in setting up suspension cultures for the purpose of quality improvement through genetic transformation. In addition, this protocol would save at least 6 months in obtaining explants for transformation and reduce labor for weekly subculture in embryogenic cell suspension culture systems.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.271-286
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• 2017

GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) genes encode plant-specific transcription factors containing two conserved QLQ and WRC domains and play critical roles in regulating the growth and development of lateral organs, such as cotyledons, leaves, and flowers. To explore the agricultural potential of Brassica rapa GRF genes (BrGRFs), the researchers isolated seven BrGRFs (BrGRF3-1, 3-2, 5, 7, 8-1, 8-2, and 9) and constructed BrGRF-overexpressing Arabidopsis thaliana plants (BrGRF-OX). BrGRF-OX plants developed larger cotyledons, leaves, and flowers as well as longer roots than the wild type. The increase in size of these organs were due to increases in cell number, but not due to cell size. BrGRF-OX plants also had larger siliques and seeds. Furthermore, BrGRF-OX seeds produced more oil than the wild type. RT-PCR analysis revealed that BrGRFs regulated expression of a wide range of genes that are involved in gibberellin-, auxin-, cell division-related growth processes. Taken together, the data indicates that BrGRFs act as positive regulators of plant growth, thus raising the possibility that they may serve as a useful genetic source for crop improvement with respect to organ size and seed oil production.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 1985

More than 1,000 chickens of Korean native Yeonsan Ogolgye (Natural Monument No. 256) were used in this study in order to investigate their various external characteristics. The aims of this study were to define the Ogolgye chicken as a breed, and to provide basal data necessary for the genetic improvement of this breed. The investigated items are as follows : color of feather and toe; presense or absence of shank feather; the number of toes: color of shank and comb; the growth rates of shank, comb and feathers in various feather tracts; and finally, the livability. Data and informations were presented in tabular form in table 1 through 12. In summary, the various external traits of the Korean native Ogolgye breed can be characterized as follows. It has normal feather than silkic one as in the western type, with black color per-dominant. The frquency of white feather color is very low. The color of toes is devided into two categories; black toes in black plumage lines, and white toes in white plumage lines. Both seres have single combs with black color. The shank is gray- black and featherless. The breed has normally four toes. The eye color is black.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2011

Considering that the world population is expected to total 9 billion by 2050, it will clearly be necessary to sustain and even accelerate the rate of improvement in crop productivity. In the 21st century, we now face another, perhaps more devastating, environmental threat, namely climate change, which could cause irreversible damage to agricultural ecosystem and loss of production potential. Enhancing intrinsic yield, plant abiotic stress tolerance, and pest and pathogen resistance through agricultural biotechnology will be a critical part of feeding, clothing, and providing energy for the human population, and overcoming climate change. Development and commercialization of genetically engineered crops have significantly contributed to increase of crop yield and farmer's income, decrease of environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide, and to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from this cropping area. Advances in plant genomics, proteomics and system biology have offered an unprecedented opportunities to identify genes, pathways and networks that control agricultural important traits. Because such advances will provide further details and complete understanding of interaction of plant systems and environmental variables, biotechnology is likely to be the most prominent part of the next generation of successful agricultural industry. In this article, we review the prospects for modification of agricultural target traits by genetic engineering, including enhancement of photosynthesis, abiotic stress tolerance, and pest and pathogen resistance associated with such opportunities and challenges under climate change.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2010

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is one of the artificial fertilization methods when only a few sperm are available for insemination, and an important tool for the preservation of genetic materials of endangered animal species, especially the male is infertile. Different from other species such as mice and pigs, the conventional ICSI method which uses spiked pipette for injection (Spike-ICSI) is exhibited low success rates in cattle because the bovinesperm head membrane is hard to break during injection procedure. We chose piezo-assisted ICSI (Piezo-ICSI) for the improvement of the injection procedure including sperm head membrane rupture and efficient puncture of the plasma membrane of the oocytes. In this experiment, we compared the efficacy of the bovine ICSI embryo production between the Piezo-ICSI and Spike-ICSI. The second polar body extrusion, pronuclear formation, cleavage and blastocyst formation were evaluated after implementation of two different ICSI techniques. The Piezo-ICSI tended to show comparably higher rates of the second polar body extrusion (41.7%), the pronuclei formation (42.9%) and the two-cell cleavage (41.4%) than Spike-ICSI does (33.3%, 28.6% and 23.5%, respectively) although there is no statistic significance between two groups. In addition, the blastocysts were only obtained from the Piezo-ICSI group (10.3%). Our finding shows that the Piezo-ICSI may be used as an artificial fertilization method in cattle when in vitro fertilization is not applicable.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.145-167
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• 1999

Our self-sufficiency of food has become less than $30{\%}$ and our nation is highly dependant on world's grain market for food. which is unstable in long term due to the world population growth faster than food production. Therefore, it is a great possibility that food might become a political weapon by way of its global shortage. its purchasing difficulty in international free trade market. and the resultant price rising. Our maximal capability of food production has become the most outstanding problem in the dimension of future food security. It would be the utmost scheme for maximal production of food to realize the maximal utilization of arable land through the enlargement of sufficient farming land and the conversion of rotation system for the more grain production. Extensional enlargement of arable land can be positively executed through the development of farming land in domestic and abroad countries. The readjustment of arable land and the installation or irrigation and drainage system can enforce the farming basement for maximal utilization of arable land through the improved rotation between paddy and upland. The prevention policy against farming land encroachment should be strictly executed through grain production encouragement on resting or marginal lands and regulation of utilization conversion for the other than food production on high grade farming lands. It is also required urgently to develope high yielding and high quality varieties through advanced genetic technology for the improvement of unit area yield, especially of wheat, corn. and soybean we import in large quantity The maximal utilization of arable land for the highest production of food can be realized through rational rotation system, the most adaptable crop cultivation on the suitable land, and the most optimal fertilization through the GIS analysis of agricultural environment information on the basis of the computerized soil resource data on super detailed soil maps(1:5000) surveyed plot by plot of whole nation.