• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2001

Long terminal repeats (LTRs) of the human endogenous retrovirus K family (HERV-K) have been found to be coexpressed with sequences of genes closely located nearby. We examined transcribed HERV-K LTR elements in human brain tissue. Using cDNA synthesized from mRNA of the human brain, we performed PCR amplification and identified ten HERV-K LTR elements. These LTR elements showed a high degree of sequence similarity (92.4-99.7%) with the human-specific LTR elements. A phylogenetic tree obtained by the neighbor-joining method revealed that HERV-K LTR elements could be divided into two groups through evolutionary divergence. Some HERV-K LTR elements (HKL-B7, HKL-B8, HKL-B10) belonging to the group II from human brain cDNA were closely related to the human-specific HERV-K LTR elements. Our data suggest that HERV-K LTR element are active in the human brain; they could conceivably play a pathogenic role in human diseases such as psychosis.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2021

Branchinotogluma segonzaci (Miura and Desbruyères, 1995) occurs in hydrothermal vent fields of the southwestern Pacific Ocean. We morphologically compared B. segonzaci from the North Fiji Basin with the original description from the Lau Basin and a subsequent study of specimens from the Manus Basin. The main characteristics of all B. segonzaci populations were similar having 21 segments, 10 pairs of elytra, cylindrical-shaped anterior lobes, and ventral papillae on segment 12 and ventral lamellae on segments 13-17 in males. However, the specimens from the North Fiji Basin had rounded to sub-renifrom elytra rather than oval in the original description. Additionally, we newly obtained 11 cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA barcodes from the North Fiji Basin and Tonga Arc populations and compared them with known COI DNA barcodes of Branchinotogluma species. Thirteen sequences of B. segonzaci showed 0.0-1.07% intraspecific variation and formed two clades in the COI neighbor-joining tree, whereas the interspecific variation among Branchinotogluma species was 8.19-22.4%. The results of this study contribute to biogeographic studies of B. segonzaci and the evolution of polynoid scale worms in chemosynthesis-based ecosystems.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.583-588
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• 2018

Although widely studied, the natural diversity of the hard tick is not well known. In this study, we collected 194 sequences from 67 species, covering 7 genera of hard tick. The 5' region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 region (586 bp) has been used to investigate intra- and inter-species variation and the phylogenetic tree of neighbor joining method has been used for assessment. As a result, by comparing the K2P-distance of intra- and interspecies, 30 samples (15.2%) shown that interspecies distance was larger than the minimum interspecfic distance. From the phylogenetic analysis, 86.8% (49) of the species were identified correctly at the genus level. On deeper analysis on these species suggested the possibility of presence cryptic species. Therefore, further work is required to delineate species boundaries and to develop a more complete understanding of hard tick diversity over larger scale.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2021

Halla horse is crossbreed between Jeju and Thoroughbred horses and is used for riding, racing and meat production. Thus, molecular genetic studies are needed to establish and preserve the industrially valuable Halla horses. This study aimed to analyses the genetic diversity and population structure through 12 microsatellite (MS) markers for Halla and putatively related 3 breeds (Jeju, Mongolian and Thoroughbred horses). On average, the number of alleles, observed heterozygosity (H_obs), expected heterozygosity (H_exp), and polymorphic information content (PIC) among all horses were 10, 0.767, 0.799, and 0.771, respectively. Neighbor-joining tree and STRUCTURE analysis showed that Halla horses were between Thoroughbred and Jeju horses, tend to more influenced by Thoroughbred horses. Therefore, these results could be considered for use as the basic genetic breed relationships resource among the horse breeds (Jeju, Mongolian, and Thoroughbred horses) related to the origins of the Halla horse.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.201-216
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• 2021

During an investigation of indigenous prokaryotic species in the Republic of Korea, a total of 38 bacterial strains belonging to the class Gammaproteobacteria were isolated from diverse environments. Samples were collected from soil, seawater, sand, sedimentary soil, rabbit feces, rat intestines, marine wetland, and tidal flats. The strains were identified to the species level using the high 16S rRNA gene sequences and showed high similarity (>98.7%) with the closest bacterial species and formed a robust clade in the neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree; it was determined that each strain belonged to independent, predefined bacteria species within the class Gammaproteobacteria. The 38 strains of Gammaproteobacteria analyzed in this study have not been reported in the Republic of Korea. Therefore, this study describes 20 genera of 13 families in 8 orders: Aeromonadales, Alteromonadales, Cellvibrionales, Enterobacterales, Lysobacterales, Oceanospirillales, Pseudomonadales, and Vibrionales. For each species, we describe Gram reaction, strain ID, isolation source, colony and cell morphology, cultural, physiological, and basic biochemical characteristics.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 2021

South Korea presently harbors less than 800 long-tailed gorals (Naemorhedus caudatus), an endangered species. I report for the first time on the taxonomic status and genetic diversity of the Korean species using non-invasive fecal sampling based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence analyses. To determine the taxonomic status of this species, I reconstructed a consensus neighbor-joining tree and generated a minimum spanning network combining haplotype sequences obtained from feces with a new goral-specific primer set developed using known sequences of the Korean goral and related species (e.g., Russian goral, Chinese goral, Himalayan goral, Japanese serow, etc.). I also examined the genetic diversity of this species. The Korean goral showed only three different haplotypes. The phylogenetic tree and parsimony haplotype network revealed a single cluster of Korean and Russian gorals, separate from related species. Generally, the Korean goral has a relatively low genetic diversity compared with that of other ungulate species (e.g., moose and red deer). I preliminarily showcased the application of non-invasive fecal sampling to the study of genetic characteristics, including the taxonomic status and genetic diversity of gorals, based on mitochondrial DNA. More phylogenetic studies are necessary to ensure the conservation of goral populations throughout South Korea.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1499-1507
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• 2023

Objective: The study investigated the origin of the Akhal-Teke horse using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data and mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 (HVR-1) nucleotide sequences Methods: Genome-wide SNP data from 22 breeds (481 horses) and mitochondrial HVR-1 sequences from 24 breeds (544 sequences) worldwide to examine the origin of the Akhal-Teke horse. The data were analyzed using principal component analysis, linkage disequilibrium analysis, neighbor-joining dendrograms, and ancestry inference to determine the population relationships, ancestral source, genetic structure, and relationships with other varieties. Results: A close genetic relationship between the Akhal-Teke horse and horses from the Middle East was found. Analysis of mitochondrial HVR-1 sequences showed that there were no shared haplotypes between the Akhal-Teke and Tarpan horses, and the mitochondrial data indicated that the Akhal-Teke horse has not historically expanded its group. Ancestral inference suggested that Arabian and Caspian horses were the likely ancestors of the Akhal-Teke horse. Conclusion: The Akhal-Teke horse originated in the Middle East.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 2023

A northern lineage plant, Stellaria filicaulis (Caryophyllaceae), was newly found in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do of South Korea. This species is distributed in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. On the Korean Peninsula, St. filicaulis, however, has been known to grow in North Korea. Species identification was confirmed using morphological characteristics and DNA sequence data, while comparing with materials obtained from herbarium specimens. Stellaria filicaulis is distinguished from St. longifolia by having smooth surface of stem, petals about twice longer than sepals. On the neighbor-joining tree, St. filicaulis formed a clade, and the species is closely related to St. longifolia of the Parviflorae clade. Details of the morphological characters, the type specimens, voucher specimens data, and photographs of St. filicaulis in South Korea are presented. In addition, it is likely that a new habitat will be found by plant biodiversity field surveys through the middle part of the Korean Peninsula. Further research is needed to determine its population size, distribution, and threats, as well as identify appropriate locations for conservation collection of germplasm.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.383-396
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• 2002

RAPD analyses were compared for 17 taxa of Korean Iris including the subgenus Sisyrinchium and Belamcanda. Eighty scorable RAPD markers were formed from the PCR reactions using 10 random oligoprimers. In this systematic analyses which used neighbor-joining methods including bootstrapping analyses with genetic coefficients, the Korean Iris were divided into three subgenera (Limniris, Crossiris, Pardanthopsis), or two genera (Limniris, Pardanthopsis). The molecular data agree with the previous classification system that recognized two sections and six series for the subgenus Limniris because the subgenus is comprised of four clades in the RAPD analyses. According to the molecula data, the series Chinensis should be divided into two groups. The minutoaurea group is composed of I. koreana, I. odaesanensis, and I. minitoaurea, while the rossi group is comprised of two varieties of I. rossi. The series Tripetalae is closely allied with the series Sibiricae, whereas the series Ensatae is recognized as a sister group to the series Ruthencae. The molecular phylogeny, which was based on RAPD analysis, for the most part agreed with the data proposed by previous authors. This is because the basis of morphological and ITS sequence data suggests that the RAPD markers should be very useful in addressing phylogenetic questions about the genus Iris.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 1999

Inter- and intraspecific genetic relationships between Rana amurensis from Korea and Russia and other brown frogs were investigated by nucleotide sequence of a 504 base pair (bp) fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Nucleotide sequence similarities among Korean populations of R. amurensis ranged from 99.6% to 97.6% and 98.8% within Russian populations. The nucleotide sequence similarity between Korean and Russian R. amurensis ranged from 86.9% to 85.5%. Based on Kimura-2-parameter distance, the sequence divergence between R. amurensis from Korea and Russia was 16.18% and 18.04% among other related brown frogs. interspecific sequence divergences among R. amurensis and other related brown frogs diverged by 20.3%. Using an estimate of 2-4% mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence per million years, Korean and Russian R. amurensis diverged about 8 to 4 million years ago (Mya) and other brown frogs diverged about 9 to 5 Mya from ancestral frogs and distributed from North Asia to Sakhalin in a short time. In the neighbor-joining and UPGMA tree R. amurensis was clustered into two groups with Korean and Russian populations and the other brown frogs were grouped separately with diverged trichotomous clusters (R. dybowskii and R. pirica, R. okinavana and R. tsushimensis, and R. japonica and R. longicrus).