• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1827-1838
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• 2022

Objective: The semen quality of stallions including sperm motility is an important target of selection as it has a high level of individual variability. However, effects of the molecular architecture of the genome on the mechanisms of sperm formation and their preservation after thawing have been poorly investigated. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for the sperm motility of cryopreserved semen in stallions of various breeds. Methods: Semen samples were collected from the stallions of 23 horse breeds. The following semen characteristics were examined: progressive motility (PM), progressive motility after freezing (FPM), and the difference between PM and FPM. The respective DNA samples from these stallions were genotyped using Axiom Equine Genotyping Array. Results: We performed a GWAS search for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and potential genes related to motility properties of frozen-thawed semen in the stallions of various breeds. As a result of the GWAS analysis, two SNP markers, rs1141327473 and rs1149048772, were identified that were associated with preservation of the frozen-thawed stallion sperm motility, the relevant putative candidate genes being NME/NM23 family member 8 (NME8), olfactory receptor family 2 subfamily AP member 1 (OR2AP1), and olfactory receptor family 6 subfamily C member 4 (OR6C4). Potential implications of effects of these genes on sperm motility are herein discussed. Conclusion: The GWAS results enabled us to localize novel SNPs and candidate genes for sperm motility in stallions. Implications of the study for horse breeding and genetics are a better understanding of genomic regions and candidate genes underlying stallion sperm quality, and improvement in horse reproduction and breeding techniques. The identified markers and genes for sperm cryotolerance and the respective genomic regions are promising candidates for further studying the biological processes in the formation and function of the stallion reproductive system.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.709-717
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• 2024

Objective: Abnormally increased somatic cell counts (SCCs) in milk is usually a sign of bovine subclinical mastitis. Mutual interaction between the host and its associated microbiota plays an important role in developing such diseases. The main objective of this study was to explore the difference between cows with elevated SCCs and healthy cattle from the perspective of host-microbe interplay. Methods: A total of 31 milk samples and 23 bovine peripheral blood samples were collected from Holstein dairy cattle to conduct an integrated analysis of transcriptomic and metagenomics. Results: The results showed that Ralstonia and Sphingomonas were enriched in cows with subclinical mastitis. The relative abundance of the two bacteria was positively correlated with the expression level of bovine transcobalamin 1 and uridine phosphorylase 1 encoding gene. Moreover, functional analysis revealed a distinct alternation in some important microbial biological processes. Conclusion: These results reveal the relative abundance of Ralstonia and Sphingomonas other than common mastitis-causing pathogens varied from healthy cows to those with subclinical mastitis and might be associated with elevated SCCs. Potential association was observed between bovine milk microbiota composition and the transcriptional pattern of some genes, thus providing new insights to understand homeostasis of bovine udder.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.1141-1155
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• 2024

Objective: RNA epigenetic modifications play an important role in regulating immune response of mammals. Bovine mastitis induced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a threat to the health of dairy cattle. There are numerous RNA modifications, and how these modification-associated enzymes systematically coordinate their immunomodulatory effects during bovine mastitis is not well reported. Therefore, the role of common RNA modification-related genes (RMRGs) in bovine S. aureus mastitis was investigated in this study. Methods: In total, 80 RMRGs were selected for this study. Four public RNA-seq data sets about bovine S. aureus mastitis were collected and one additional RNA-seq data set was generated by this study. Firstly, quantitative trait locus (QTL) database, transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) database and differential expression analyses were employed to characterize the potential functions of selected enzyme genes in bovine S. aureus mastitis. Correlation analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were used to further investigate the relationships of RMRGs from different types at the mRNA expression level. Interference experiments targeting the m⁶ A demethylase FTO and utilizing public MeRIP-seq dataset from bovine Mac-T cells were used to investigate the potential interaction mechanisms among various RNA modifications. Results: Bovine QTL and TWAS database in cattle revealed associations between RMRGs and immune-related complex traits. S. aureus challenged and control groups were effectively distinguished by principal component analysis based on the expression of selected RMRGs. WGCNA and correlation analysis identified modules grouping different RMRGs, with highly correlated mRNA expression. The m⁶ A modification gene FTO showed significant effects on the expression of m⁶ A and other RMRGs (such as NSUN2, CPSF2, and METTLE), indicating complex co-expression relationships among different RNA modifications in the regulation of bovine S. aureus mastitis. Conclusion: RNA epigenetic modification genes play important immunoregulatory roles in bovine S. aureus mastitis, and there are extensive interactions of mRNA expression among different RMRGs. It is necessary to investigate the interactions between RNA modification genes regulating complex traits in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.5
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• pp.567-571
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• 2007

This study was conducted to clarify the differences in breeding bird communities between deciduous forests of Gwangneung and Mt. Namsan areas from April to August 2006. Two 10ha area were selected for territory mapping of breeding bird community in both study area. The DBH distribution of trees and average foliage profiles were significantly different between study areas. Also, breeding bird communities were different. Number of breeding species and pairs, breeding density, and bird species diversity were higher in Gwangneung area than in Mt. Namsan area. When examining relationship between forest habitat structure and bird community, Number of bird species and breeding pairs belonged to hole and canopy guild were increase as the increase of coverstory coverage and number of large trees. Therefore, it is necessary to make vertical structure more various to plant bushes, and to make DBH distribution more diverse for enhancing bird species diversity in the degraded ecosystem.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2006

We studied variation in clutch size, hatching, fledging and breeding success of the Black-tailed Gull (larus crassirostris) at Hongdo Island, which supported the largest breeding colony of the species, in South Korea in 1997 and 2000 to 2003. Cluck size was recorded in 1,388 nests and breeding success was estimated in 83 nests. Mean clutch size was 1.89 t 0.65. A total of 63.9% of the eggs hatched and 53.5% of the chicks survived until fledged. Breeding success was 34.2%. Causes of breeding failure were eggs missing (14.9%), rotten eggs (15.5%) and predation (2.4%) during the incubation period and chicks missing(35.8%), starvation (7.4%) and pecked chicks (3.2%) during the chick rearing period. In 2002, the main causes of breeding failure were eggs missing (17.2%) and rotten eggs (6.9%) during the incubation period and missing chicks (15.5%), starvation (3.5%) and pecked chicks (6.9%) during the chick rearing period. Most chick mortality occurred within three days after hatching.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.73-85
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• 1997

Although zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.) has a lot of excellent chracteristics as warm-season grass, it have been limited in use due to slow establishment, low seed production, poor shade tolerance and other factors. Breeding trials have been continued from 1900's, much attentions have been paid especially in U.S.A., Korea and Japan recently. In U.S.A., more than 24 varieties had been evaluated at National Turfgrass Evaluation Program(NTEP) from 1991 to 1995 and some were regsistered as commercial. After the 6th International Turfgrass Research Conference at Japan in 1989, Japan Turfgrass In-corporation (JTI) sponsored by private companies and government carried out breeding programs for pest, salt, and shade tolerant and herbicide resistant varieties. JTI also has been trying to im-prove vigor and breed evergreen zoysia Korean breeders collected germplasms since 1960's. After USDA breeders came to Korean penesula in 1982, Korean breeders joined with USDA zoysia breeding project for several years. Many interspecific hybrids and natural selected varieties were breeded that period both in U.S.A and Korea. Breeding objectives were to extend green color period, improve leaf quality and density, and better leaf color at dormant stage. Since 1990's, zoysia grass breeding trials are getting more diverse in many points such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay for ecotype identification. The objectives of this study are to evaluate germplasms in Korea, and also review the present status and future prospect in zoysia grass breeding in the world.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.277-282
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• 2009

Saunders' gulls (Laurs saundersi) which are listed as globally vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List are distributed in East Asia and breed mainly in China and Korea. Their population is estimated to be between 7,100 to 9,600. Songdo reclaimed lands in the western coast of South Korea are the main breeding sites for these species. However, most of these breeding sites have been seriously disturbed in the last several years because of new urban development constructions. This study was conducted to provide baseline data on the breeding ecology of Saunders' gulls. Since 1998, the breeding population has rapidly increased in South Korea, with the number of nests rising from 85 nests in 2000 to 185 nests in 2005. Egg volume is more variable than breadth or length. Clutch size, hatching and breeding success were $2.9{\pm}0.81$ (n=182, mean$\pm$sd.), 48.07% (75 hatched egg/156 eggs) and 29.08% (155 fledglings/533 eggs), respectively. Factors affecting breeding failure were predation, rainfall, starvation and supernormal clutches. These results are provided along with other cited literature to argue for conservation of Saunders' gulls.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.441-444
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• 2004

The genetic diversities and relationships of 10 Chinese indigenous pig breeds and three exotic pig breeds have been evaluated using 26 microsatellites recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization & the International Society of Animal Genetics (FAO-ISAG). The allele frequencies, genetic heterozygosity (H) and polymorphism information content (PIC) have been calculated. The results showed that genetic diversity of Chinese indigenous pig breeds is higher than that of the introduced pig breeds. The clustering of 10 breeds is generally consistent with their geographical distribution.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.15-31
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• 1995

This study was carried out to develop a computer software system for poultry breeding by using microcomputer(PC). Through this study, SPPB(Statistical Package for Poultry Breeding) was designed and developed, which can help poultry breeder collect and analyse the chick records. A main feature of the system was the application of user-oriented procedure, for example, choice of the flock file, selection of the family size and the desired traits. Creation of the data files and the breeding files. calculation of the elementary statistics, estimation of the heritability and the genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients can be obtained by user's choice of the sire and dam family size. Also, it is possible to estimate the various selection indices through this system. Easiness of using this system and the flexibility of the file management could help increasing the efficiency of related practical poultry breeding jobs. Correctness and relationships between the unit programs in the system were proved through the run-test of the SPPB using sample data. Because it wasn't able to collect breeding records at the commercial breeding farm, effectiveness of the system was not proved totally. Also. it will be necessary to develop the integrated software system which make possible to computerize the general works at breeding farm and the genetic analyses of the records from chick breeders.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.34-34
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• 2022

Capacity building for bioinformatics could be achieved with the systematic training of research staff and higher degree students in the current best practices for analysis of data from 'omic-type experiments. It is anticipated that the KOICA-University of the Philippines Los Baños - International Rice Research Insitute Agricultural Genomics Research Center activities will focus on the use of next generation sequencing technology for genome sequencing and annotation, genome variant discovery for use in GWAS and QTL mapping, and transcriptome analysis of organisms important to agriculture and food security. Such activities require that researchers have high levels of knowledge and skills in bioinformatics in order to gain insights from the results of the experiments performed. In this talk the bioinformatic tools/solutions and online training materials already available will be presented, as well the upcoming resources under development in support of the project.