• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2011

Commelina benghalensis L. and Commelina diffusa Burm. f. belonging to Commelinaceae, two species previously unrecorded as Korean flora, were collected in the lowlands of Jeju Island in Korea. Commelina benghalensis of the two species is different from others of Commelinaceae in Korea by having funnelform spathes fused at the proximal margin of involucral bracts and cleistogamous flowers. In addition, Commelina diffusa differ from others by having a three-valve capsule and lanceolate and a base cordate or rounded spathelike involucral bracts. The somatic chromosome number of Commelina benghalensis was 2n = 2x = 22 and the sizes of chromosomes were very small, ranging from 1.25 to 2.70 ${\mu}m$. However, the Commelina diffusa chromosome number exceeded 2n = ca. 100, and a precise count could not be obtained. These species are known to be distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa below the latitude of Jeju Island of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.118-121
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• 2005

Karyotypes were established in seven Angelica species cultivated in Korea. The somatic chromosome numbers were 2n = 2x = 22 with the basic number of x = 11 in all Angelica plants examined. Their metaphase chromosomes ranged from 3.56 ${\mu}M$. to 8.91 x. in length. Distinctive Karyotypes were found in two species, A. tenuissima with all metacentries, K(2n) = 2x = 22m, and A. genuflexa with all subtelocentrics, K(2n) = 2x = 22st. Karyotype formulas of A. gigas, A. acutiloha, A. sinensis, A. decursiva and A. dahurica were K(2n) = 2x = 20m + 2sm, K(2n) = 2x = 12m + 10sm, K(2n) = 2x = 16m + 6sm, K(2n) = 2x = 18m + 4sm and K(2n) = 2x = 10m + 10sm + 2st, respectively. Cytological data showed that chromosomal polymorphisms within species were observed in Angelica plants compare to other regions.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2014

Telomeres are the ends of the eukaryotic chromosomes and consist of a tandem repetitive DNA sequence and shelterin protein complex. The function of telomere is to protect chromosome. Telomere length in somatic cells tends to decrease with organismal age due to the end replication problem. However, several factors at the genetic, epigenetic and environmental level affect telomere length. In this study, we estimated heritability of telomere length and investigated inheritance of telomeres in a chicken. Telomere length of lymphocytes was analyzed by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction using telomere primer and quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization using telomeric DNA probe. In results, heritability of telomere length was estimated 0.9 at birth by offspring-parent regression analysis and was estimated 0.03 and 0.04 at 10 and 30 weeks old, respectively, by parental variance analysis. There was a significant positive correlation in telomere length between father and their offspring (r=0.348), and mother and their offspring (r=0.380). In inheritance patterns of telomere length, the influence of paternal and maternal effect on their offspring was similar. The influence of inherited telomeres on male and female progeny was also roughly alike. These results implicated that imprinting of parental telomere length was regulated by autosomal genes, not sex linked genes. In addition, telomere length of offspring at birth did not differ along with their maternal age. Thus, maternal age does not affects telomere length in their offspring at birth owing to cellular reprogramming at early embryonic stage.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.485-495
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• 1991

This experiment was carried out to obtain the information on the crossability, variation of chromosome number in pollen mother cell (PMC) and somatic cell of the progeny from the cross between hexaploid triticale cv. Sinkihomil and two diploid rye varieties. Seed set was 39.3 to 41.6% (averaged 40.5%) in the cross between triticale (P$_1$) and rye(P$_2$), which resulted in 0.33% in F$_2$(selfed F$_1$), 2.69% in F$_1$/P$_1$ 5.47% in F$_1$/P$_2$ respectively. However, seed set was extremely low in both reciprocal crosses when triticale was used as male. Germination rate of the crossed seed was 94.0% in F$_1$ 40.8% in F$_2$(selfed F$_1$), 59.5% in F$_1$/P$_1$ and 65.9% in F$_1$/P$_2$ from the cross between triticale and rye, respectively. Pollen fertility of F$_1$ plant was averaged 18.7% in the cross between triticale and rye. Number of Uni-, Bi-, and Trivalent in PMC was 12. 6, 6.94, and 0.53, respectively, in the F$_1$ between the triticale and rye. There were 28 chromosomes in F$_1$, 21 to 34 in F$_2$, 34 to 38 in F$_1$/P$_1$ and 19 to 23 in F$_1$/P$_2$ from the cross between the triticale and rye, respectively.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.568-572
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• 2012

Determination of ploidy level for the mother plant is prerequisite for effective breeding. The study was carried out to determine the ploidy level in 7 different plant materials by FISH karyotype analysis. Among the seven plant varieties analyzed, all exhibit tetraploid (2n = 4x = 28) based on the results observed in chromosome analysis. Four signals of 45S rDNAs were detected on the terminal region of the short arm of chromosome 7. The length of somatic metaphase chromosomes ranges from 1.67 to $2.67{\mu}m$ in 'Alexandra', 1.40 to $2.04{\mu}m$ in 'Freud', 1.64 to 2.24 in 'Little Silver', 1.69 to $2.26{\mu}m$ in 'Teresa', 1.70 to $2.65{\mu}m$ in 'Tineke', 1.35 to $2.08{\mu}m$ in 'Vital', 1.39 to $2.04{\mu}m$ in 'Yellow Mimi'. Total length of the chromosome ranges from $11.23{\mu}m$ in 'Freud' as minimum to $15.05{\mu}m$ in 'Alexandra' as maximum. The karyotypes were composed of metacentric, submetacentric, and subtelocentric chromosome but there is no subtelocentric chromosome.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2010

Objective: X inactivation is the silencing one of the two X chromosomes in female mammals for gene dosage on the X-chromosome between female and male. X inactivation is controlled by X inactive-specific transcript (XIST) gene, untranslated RNA. XIST is expressed only from the inactive X (Xi), not expressed from the active X (Xa). The Xist promoter is methylated on the silent Xist allele on the Xa in somatic cells, and less methylated on the Xist-expressing Xi. We investigated the difference of XIST methylation pattern of the promoter and 5'-region of XIST from male (XY) and female (XX) subjects. Methods: The direct quantification of XIST methylation is required for clinical application of normal XX and XY blood. Methylation percentage of eight CpG sites (-1696, -1679, -1475, -1473, -1469, +947, +956, +971) of XIST gene were diagnosed by pyrosequencing. Results: We directly quantitated the methylation percentage of the promoter and 5'-end of XIST by pyrosequencing. The average methylation percentages at CpG6-8 sites (+947, +956, +971) were 45.2% at CpG6, 49.9% at CpG7, and 44.2% at CpG8 from normal female and normal male were 90.6%, 96.7%, 87.8%, respectively. Nether CpG 1-5sites (-1696, -1679, -1475, -1473, -1469) had any effect on XX and XY. Conclusion: This method is sensitive for quantifying the small percentage change in the methylation status of XIST, and may be used for diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.423-428
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• 2000

In 1997 when cloned sheep Dolly and soon after Polly were born, it had become head-line news because in the former the nucleus that gave rise to the lamb came from cells of six-year-old adult sheep and in the latter case a foreign gene was inserted into the donor nucleus to make the cloned sheep produce human protein, factor IX, in e milk. In the last few years, once the realm of science fiction, cloned mammals especially in livestock have become almost commonplace. What the press accounts often fail to convey, however, is that behind every success lie hundreds of failures. Many of the nuclear-transferred egg cells fail to undergo normal cell divisions. Even when an embryo does successfully implant in the womb, pregnancy often ends in miscarriage. A significant fraction of the animals that are born die shortly after birth and some of those that survived have serious developmental abnormalities. Efficiency remains at less than one % out of some hundred attempts to clone an animal. These facts show that something is fundamentally wrong and enormous hurdles must be overcome before cloning becomes practical. Cloning researchers now tent to put aside their effort to create live animals in order to probe the fundamental questions on cell biology including stem cells, the questions of whether the hereditary material in the nucleus of each cell remains intact throughout development, and how transferred nucleus is reprogrammed exactly like the zygotic nucleus. Stem cells are defined as those cells which can divide to produce a daughter cell like themselves (self-renewal) as well as a daughter cell that will give rise to specific differentiated cells (cell-differentiation). Multicellular organisms are formed from a single totipotent stem cell commonly called fertilized egg or zygote. As this cell and its progeny undergo cell divisions the potency of the stem cells in each tissue and organ become gradually restricted in the order of totipotent, pluripotent, and multipotent. The differentiation potential of multipotent stem cells in each tissue has been thought to be limited to cell lineages present in the organ from which they were derived. Recent studies, however, revealed that multipotent stem cells derived from adult tissues have much wider differentiation potential than was previously thought. These cells can differentiate into developmentally unrelated cell types, such as nerve stem cell into blood cells or muscle stem cell into brain cells. Neural stem cells isolated from the adult forebrain were recently shown to be capable of repopulating the hematopoietic system and produce blood cells in irradiated condition. In plants although the term$\boxDr$ stem cell$\boxUl$is not used, some cells in the second layer of tunica at the apical meristem of shoot, some nucellar cells surrounding the embryo sac, and initial cells of adventive buds are considered to be equivalent to the totipotent stem cells of mammals. The telomere ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes cannot be replicated because the RNA primer at the end of a completed lagging strand cannot be replaced with DNA, causing 5' end gap. A chromosome would be shortened by the length of RNA primer with every cycle of DNA replication and cell division. Essential genes located near the ends of chromosomes would inevitably be deleted by end-shortening, thereby killing the descendants of the original cells. Telomeric DNA has an unusual sequence consisting of up to 1,000 or more tandem repeat of a simple sequence. For example, chromosome of mammal including human has the repeating telomeric sequence of TTAGGG and that of higher plant is TTTAGGG. This non-genic tandem repeat prevents the death of cell despite the continued shortening of chromosome length. In contrast with the somatic cells germ line cells have the mechanism to fill-up the 5' end gap of telomere, thus maintaining the original length of chromosome. Cem line cells exhibit active enzyme telomerase which functions to maintain the stable length of telomere. Some of the cloned animals are reported prematurely getting old. It has to be ascertained whether the multipotent stem cells in the tissues of adult mammals have the original telomeres or shortened telomeres.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the developmental ability of caprine embryos after somatic cell interspecies nuclear transfer. Recipient bovine and porcine oocytes were obtained from slaughterhouse and were matured in vitro according to established protocols. Donor cells were obtained from an ear-skin biopsy of a caprine, digested with 0.25% trypsin-EDTA in PBS and primary fibroblast cultures were established in TCM-199 with 10% FBS. The matured oocytes were dipped in D-PBS plus 10% FBS ＋ 7.5 $\mu$ g/ml cytochalasin B and 0.05M sucrose. Enucleation were accomplished by aspirating the first polar body and partial cytoplasm which containing metaphase II chromosomes using a micropipette with an out diameter of 20∼30 $\mu$m. A Single donor cell was individually transferred into the perivitelline space of each enucleated oocyte. The reconstructed oocytes were electric fusion with 0.3M mannitol fusion medium. After the electrofusion, embryos were activated by electric stimulation. Interspecies nuclear transfer embryos with bovine cytoplasts were cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 10% FBS including bovine oviduct epithelial cells for 7∼9 day. And porcine cytoplasts were cultured in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 10% FBS for 6 ∼8 day at $39^{\circ}C, 5% CO_2 $in air. Interspecies nuclear transfer by recipient bovine oocytes were fused with electric length 1.95 kv/cm and 2.10 kv/cm. There was no significant difference between two electric length in fusion rate(47.7 and 44.6%) and in cleavage rate(41.9 and 54.5%). Using electric length 1.95 kv/cm and 2.10 kv/cm in caprine-porcine NT oocytes, there was also no significant difference between two treatments in fusion rate(51.3 and 46.1%) and in cleavage rate(75.0 and 84.9%). The caprine-bovine NT oocytes fusion rate was lower(P＜0.05) in 1 pulse for 60 $\mu$sec(19.3%), than those from 1 pulse for 30 $\mu$sec(50.8%) and 2 pulse for 30 $\mu$sec(31.0%). The cleavage rate was higher(P＜0.05) in 1 pulse for 30 $\mu$sec(53.3%) and 2 pulse for 30 $\mu$sec(50.0%), than in 1 pulse for 60 $\mu$sec(18.2%). The caprine-porcine NT oocytes fusion rate was 48.1% in 1 pulse for 30 $\mu$sec, 45.2% in 2 pulse for 30 $\mu$sec and 48.6% in 1 pulse for 60 $\mu$sec. The cleavage rate was higher(P＜0.05) in 1 pulse for 30 $\mu$sec(78.4%) and 1 pulse for 60 $\mu$sec(79.4%), than in 2 pulse for 30 $\mu$sec(53.6%). In caprine-bovine NT embryos, the developmental rate of morula and blastocyst stage embryos were 22.6% in interspecies nuclear transfer and 30.6% in parthenotes, which was no significant differed. The developmental rate of morula and blastocyst stage embryos with caprine-porcine NT embryos were lower(P＜0.05) in interspecies nuclear transfer(5.1%) than parthenotes(37.4%).

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.2
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• pp.131-144
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• 1995

To determine the structure of chromosome and to identify the sex chromosome of Ginkgo biloba and G. biloba var. fastigiata, the samples were obtained from root tips of trees growing in seven different provinences. The results are as follows. The basic number of somatic chromosomes was 2n=24. The range of a relative length of long chromosome was between $14.88{\sim}11.18{\mu}m$ and that of short chromosome was $8.11{\sim}6.24{\mu}m$. The chromosome sets were composed with one long pairs of m type and 11 short pairs of sm or st type. These short pairs showed the continuous descending in length. There was a satellite on the short arm of the Longest chromosome pair, and were satellites of the one or both long arm of 7th or 8th chromosome pair which were sm or st type, or the shortest st type chromosome pair. Sometimes, a satellite on the short arm of the longest chromosome pairs of Ginkgo biloba was double satellite, but that of G. biloba var. fastigiata was not. Karyotype was $2n=24=2^{2s}A^m+2B^{st\;or\;sm}+2C^{st}+2D^{st}+2E^{st}+2F^{st\;or\;sm}+2G^{sm}+2^{2s}H^{sm}\;or\;(^{1s}H^{sm}+H^{sm})+2I^{st}+2J^{st}+2K^{st}+2^{2s}L^{st}\;or\;(^{1s}L^{st}+L^{st})$. The male and female trees were not apparently distinguished by the chromsome structures. However the differences between the satellites could be used to identify the male and females. The male tree has double satellite on short arm of a longest chromosome pairs and females' has not. Also female trees have a satellite on a short chromosome more frequently than male trees.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.18-34
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• 2008

Based on external morphology, each of five species can be classified into three groups: 1) B. falcatum group (B. falcatum, B. scorzonerifolium), 2) B. euphorbioides group (B. euphorbioides) and 3) B. longiradiatum group (B. longiradiatum, B. latissimum). B. falcatum group has cauline leaves linear or lanceolate in shape and attenuate at base and not surrounding the stem. In contrast, B. longiradiatum group and B. euphorbioides group have cauline leaves ovate, lanceolate or panduriform in shape and auriculate or cordate at base and completely surrounding the stem. The inflorescence is basically compound umbels terminated at the apex of stem. But B. euphorbioides group is small in size and pedicels are rather short and the number of the pedicel is ca. 20. On the other hand, B. longiradiatum and B. falcatum groups are large in size and their pedicels are long and the number of the pedicel is around 10. The pore of pollen aperture of B. longiradiatum and B. latissimum is partially projected or not while those of B. falcatum group and B. euphorbioides is usually remarkably projected. The number of somatic chromosomes was counted as 2n=20 in B. falcatum, 2n=12 in B. scorzonerifolium and B. longiradiatum, and 2n=16 in B. euphorbioides and B. latissimum. Although chromosome numbers of B. euphorbioides and B. latissimum are the same, the two species are not likely to relate because the karyotypes of the two species are different from each other. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that B. latissimum is most closely related to B. longiradiatum. However, molecular data indicated that the species is probably related to B. bicaule distributed in central Siberia. In terms of conservation of B. latissimum, overexploitation by human and grazing by goat are most threatened factors.