• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

For the development of qualitative PCR detection method of genetically modified (CM) rice, rice species-specific gene, OsCc-1 (rice cytochrome c gene), was selected as suitable far use as an endogenous gene in rice. The primer pair OsCytC-5'/3'with 111 bp amplicon was used for PCR amplification of the rice endogenous gene, OsCc-1 and no amplified product was observed from 8 different crops as templates. Qualitative PCR method was carried out with stack traits of L528$\times$CryIAc1 GM rice developed in Korea. For the qualitative PCRs, some primer pairs were designed with a construct-specific and event-specific type based on T-DNA and junction sequences of T-DNA in GM rice. Actck-5'/3' amplifying between actin promoter and OsCK1 gene introduced in LS28 gave rise to an amplicon 306 bp; also, CrLB-5'/3' from CryIAcl and CKRB-5'/3'amplifying the junction region of T-DNA and genome sequence from LS28 as event-specific primers gave rise to an amplicon 142 bp and 91 bp, respectively. These primer pairs for the detection of event-specific targets not produced PCR amplicons on non-CM rice and various crops in contrast to event lines. Therefore, in this study we verified that event-specific primers were effective to specifically detect stack trait lines and demonstrated that this method presented could be provided with the detection-method data for risk assessment analysis of GM rice to be commercialized.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2018

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the crops widely planted in tropical and subtropical areas. The papaya fruit has low calories and are plentiful in vitamins A and C and in minerals. A major problem in papaya production is a plant disease caused by the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). The first PRSV-resistant GM papaya expressing a PRSV coat protein gene was developed by USA scientists in 1992. The first commercial GM papaya cultivars derived from the event was approved by the US government in 1997. Development of transgenic papayas has been focused on vaccine production and limited agricultural traits, including insect and pathogen resistance, long shelf life, and aluminum and herbicide tolerance. Approximately 17 countries, including the USA and China, produced transgenic papayas and/or commercialized them, which provoked studies on biosafety assessment and development of GM-detection technologies. For the biosafety assessment of potential effects on human health, effects of long-term feeding to model animals have been studied in terms of toxicity and allergenicity. Studies on environmental safety assessment include influence on soil-microbial biodiversity and transfer to soil bacteria of GM selection markers. Many countries, such as Korea, the European Union, and Japan, that have strict regulations for GM crops have serious concerns about unintended introduction of GM cultivars and food commodities using unauthorized GM crops. Transgene- and/or GM event-specific molecular markers and technologies for genomics-based detection of unauthorized GM papaya have been developed and have resulted in the robust detection of GM papayas.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.289-296
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• 2001

The main objective of this topic is to establish strategies and to plan biotechnology researches which are related to the agricultural improvements especially focusing on the crop breeding in Korea. From 1960's to 1980's government policy had been emphasized to develope high yielding cultivars for the self sufficient supply of the staple food crops. As a result, considerable increase of rice production has been made with accumulating technology and man's powers. Recently genetically modified crops harboring useful characteristics have been developed using biotechnology and released in the developed countries. National research institutes and private companies have been developed biotechnology researches to establish competitive capabilities, however they have not been successfully used in commercialization. Therefore it is necessary to promote the practical. application by connecting molecular technology with conventional breeding. Proposed research projects are; (1) basic researches including plant genome studies, (2) developing new cultivars through gene transformation, (3) screening and producing antioxidants, secondary metabolite substances and edible vaccines. To set a government policy, both domestic and international research trends were reviewed and possibility of success based on the economic view point were discussed. The intellectual property and preservation of environment play a key role to decide the research priority. It is also necessary for us to make one step system for the distribution of research resources such as microorganisms, genes cloned, plant seeds and research informations for promoting research activities.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.171-184
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• 2006

According to ISAAA report, the global area of genetically modified (GM) crops increased more than 50 fold during the ten-year period from 1996 to 2005 with a sustained double-digit growth rate of 10%. This biotechnology adoption is one of the highest rates of technology adoption in agriculture history and this phenomenon indicates that the industrial value of the GM crops is highly perspective. In addition, the year 2010, 60% of cereal seeds in the global market would be GM or biotechnology related seeds so that the GM crop regards as the second green revolution that could provide a huge impact to food and agriculture. Nevertheless, there has not been any GM variety ever successfully commercialized in Korea and even none of the GM crops has ever been approved for safety testing by risk assessment. This seems that Korean agriculture industry might be indeed lost in the war of future seed market. However, lots of evidence show that Korean scientists have established advanced technologies and protocols to develop GM crops for last 20 years. Actually there have been many cases of successful transformation of crops that were previously known very difficult in transforming. Therefore, Korean agbiotechnology arena firmly holds an infrastructure for developing GM crops with a superior technology. Then what were the problems? Why has even a single GM crop not been commercialized in Korea? The tardiness shown by business in adopting the GM crop is caused by many factors: academical weakness, poor research funding, short knowledge of risk assessment, public concern, no successful experience, lack of professional leaders on GM variety development, lack of systems toward industrialization and inappropriate target transgenes from the beginning. In order to catch up in the race for the new green industry, each one of us in private sectors alongside academia and national research institutes needs to focus altogether on what can be done best in terms of choosing crops, investing fund and establishing a road map for commercialization of GM crops.