• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.789-800
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• 2021

Objective: Conservation and genetic improvement of cattle breeds require information about genetic diversity and population structure of the cattle. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of the three cattle breeds in the Korean peninsula. Methods: Jeju Black, Hanwoo, Holstein cattle in Korea, together with six foreign breeds were examined. Genetic diversity within the cattle breeds was analyzed with minor allele frequency (MAF), observed and expected heterozygosity (HO and HE), inbreeding coefficient (FIS) and past effective population size. Molecular variance and population structure between the nine breeds were analyzed using a model-based clustering method. Genetic distances between breeds were evaluated with Nei's genetic distance and Weir and Cockerham's FST. Results: Our results revealed that Jeju Black cattle had lowest level of heterozygosity (HE = 0.21) among the studied taurine breeds, and an average MAF of 0.16. The level of inbreeding was -0.076 for Jeju Black, while -0.018 to -0.118 for the other breeds. Principle component analysis and neighbor-joining tree showed a clear separation of Jeju Black cattle from other local (Hanwoo and Japanese cattle) and taurine/indicine cattle breeds in evolutionary process, and a distinct pattern of admixture of Jeju Black cattle having no clustering with other studied populations. The FST value between Jeju Black cattle and Hanwoo was 0.106, which was lowest across the pair of breeds ranging from 0.161 to 0.274, indicating some degree of genetic closeness of Jeju Black cattle with Hanwoo. The past effective population size of Jeju Black cattle was very small, i.e. 38 in 13 generation ago, whereas 209 for Hanwoo. Conclusion: This study indicates genetic uniqueness of Jeju Black cattle. However, a small effective population size of Jeju Black cattle indicates the requirement for an implementation of a sustainable breeding policy to increase the population for genetic improvement and future conservation.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2017

In the northwestern Pacific region, the pen shell (Atrina pectinata) is a widely distributed bivalve and economically important in fisheries. Recently, stock of this species has been greatly reduced due to overexploitation and marine pollution, which arouses interest in conservation. Studies on genetic and taxonomic entities of pen shells have not been tried in Korea, which makes difficult to take measures for effective conservation of this marine resource. In this study, we investigated mitochondrial genetic polymorphism of pen shells collected from 4 locations in Korea and Japan using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequences. A total of 39 haplotypes were identified among 86 individuals of pen shell. Although only 5 haplotypes were shared, no significant genetic differentiation was observed between Korean and Japanese populations. These results suggest that pen shell populations of these regions share an ancestral population which might have experienced expansion during the Pleistocene, but gene flow must have been highly restricted after expansion.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1519-1523
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• 2003

Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schmidt (Umbelliferae) is a short-lived herbaceous species that are mostly distributed throughout East Asia. Although G. littoralis has been regarded as ecologically important one, there is no report on population structure in Korea. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the allozyme variation and genetic structure of Korean populations of this species. A high level of genetic variation was found in G. littoral is populations. Nine enzymes revealed 18 loci, of which 12 were polymorphic (66.7%). Genetic diversity at the species and population levels were 0.159 and 0.129, respectively. The sexual and asexual reproduction, high fecundity, and colonization process are proposed as possible factors contributing to genetic diversity. An indirect estimate of the number of migrants per generation (Nm = 1.45) indicated that gene flow was not extensive among Korean populations of this species. It is suggested that the ability of vegetation and artificial selection may have played roles in shaping the population structure of this species. we recommend that a desirable conservation population should be included at least 30 plants per population and especially those with high variation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.530-539
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• 2007

Genetic variation and structure of 9 subpopulations of Symplocarpus renifolius Schott ex Tzvelev on Mt. Cheonma, in Korea, were determined via starch-gel electrophoresis. The genetic diversity at 10 loci for 8 isozymes ($P_{99}=66%,\;A=2.26,\;H_o=0.212,\;H_e=0.230$) was found to be considerably higher than that seen in other long-lived perennial plants. On the whole, the genotype frequencies were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Approximately 5%($\theta=0.049$) of the total variability was among subpopulations. The high levels of observed genetic diversity in S. renifolius were attributed to a universal outcrossing system and other specific factors like differences in age classes and widely scattered individuals around the main distribution. Heterozygosity was highest at a mid-range of elevation($450m{\sim}600m$). The lowest heterozygosity at lower elevation was attributed to the possible origin of seeds transported by water from upstream regions during the monsoon season. Spatial structure in a subpopulation evidenced a strong autocorrelation between closer individuals within $3{\sim}4m$ of distance. This was assumed to be attributable to the restricted seed dispersal characteristics of S. renifolius. In accordance with the findings generated in this study, some implications regarding the conservation of S. renifolius at the Mt. Cheonma were also presented.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.617-621
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• 2006

Recently the numbers of the Thai swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), a native species of Thailand, have been rapidly declining, leading to a requirement for conservation programs for this breed. Such studies of the genetic diversity of this species are essential for conservation decisions and to assist the rational implementation of breeding programs. In this study, the genetic diversity of 80 Thai swamp buffalo, randomly selected from seven different research stations of the Thai Department of Livestock Development, were studied using ten cattle microsatellite markers. Polymorphic PCR products were observed at all microsatellite loci, with percentages of polymorphic loci ranging from 80.00 to 100.00%. The population from Payao showed the lowest level of polymorphism. The mean number of alleles per locus was 4.7 with the highest number of alleles being eight (ETH152) and the lowest being three (HAUT27 and ILSTS030). The average unbiased heterozygosity for all seven populations was 0.61 and varied between 0.5314 (Samui) and 0.6798 (Surin). The genetic distance according to NEI's (1972) ranged from 0.0722 to 0.4427. The populations from Surin and Burirum are the closest populations, while populations from Samui and Payao are the most divergent. The information generated by this study will greatly aid in the establishment of effective breeding and conservation programs for the Thai swamp buffalo.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.503-509
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• 2006

To determine the minimum area for conservation of four Halophytic species populations, we evaluate the genetic diversity of four species based on the AFLP method using thirteen primer sets. Four species populations, Phragmites communis Trin, Suaeda japonica Makino, Zoysia sinica Hance, and S. maritima (L.) Dumort, from the southwestern coast of Korea, were selected for this study. The genetic diversity index ($\Psi_{ST}$) of Phragmites communis was 0.3856, Suaeda japonica 0.1445, Suaeda maritima 0.1669, and Zoysia sinica 0.2422. Based on the genetic diversity of population, we could determine the minimum area for conservation of each species as follows. P. communis needs $500{\times}500m^2$, S. japonica, S. maritima, and Z. sinica $100\times100m^2$ for keeping their genetic identity.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.21 no.sup1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2009

Environmental differences of each sea around the Korean Peninsula in terms of factors including topography and complexity of sea current may influence species and genetic diversity of marine fishes. Fish are naturally abundant in the frontal area where various currents or water masses meet. However, this food resource is prone to human overexploitation, threatening the marine ecosystem. New fisheries resources management strategies are needed. Such strategies require information about population structure obtained through morphological and genetic methods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 2008

Picea jezoensis (Sieb. et Zucc.) Carriere is one of the major and widespread components of the cold-temperate and boreal forests in Russian Far East, northeast China, Korea, and Japan. However, it is restricted to a highly fragmented range in South Korea with small populations. Mean expected heterozygosity $(H_e)$ based on 22 loci in 11 isozyme systems was 0.077 for four sampled populations that covered the whole distribution range of P. jezoensis in South Korea. This value is within the range reported for conifers, but it is very low compared to that of other spruce species as well as that of P. jezoensis populations in Russian Far East. Most populations had a slight excess of heterozygotes and the Wright's $F_{IS}$ (-0.019) was comparable to that previously reported for other spruce species. In all of the four populations, the Wilcoxon sign-rank test indicated no greater heterozygosity than that expected for populations at mutation-drift equilibrium, suggesting that the populations have not been bottlenecked recently. Despite a fragmented range and isolated populations, population differentiation was not high $(F_{ST}=0.047)$ and the number of migrants per generation was 5.09. Nei's genetic distances were also small $({\bar{D}}=0.005)$ but strongly related to geographic distances between populations, suggesting an Isolation by Distance. The northernmost isolate, Mt. Gyebang population was genetically distinct from the other three populations. Implications for the conservation of genetic variation of P. jezoensis in South Korea were discussed.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.31
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• pp.69-77
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• 2010

Preservation of artifacts that are excavated from archeological sites is closely related to soil environment. Biological remains are especially influenced by degradation activity of microorganism from soil environment. In this study a preserved human bone in archaeological tomb, Tou-kwang-myo from Joseon Period was analyzed to characterize bacteria groups by molecular genetic tools using 16S rDNA sequences. 117 clones were identified and classified 9 phylogenetic groups : ${\alpha}$-, ${\beta}$-, ${\gamma}$-, ${\delta}$-Proteobacteria, Sphingobacteria, Clostridia, Actinobacteridae, Nitrospiraceae, and Gemmatimonadetes according to homologous 16S rDNA sequences submitted in NCBI. ${\gamma}$-Proteobacteria group appears the highest ratio in bones (about 35%) while about 19.6% belong to the Actinobacteria group. The results may contribute to study on the effect of microorganisms on the human remains with burial method.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.169-180
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• 2003

Biodiversity is defined as totality of genetic, species, and ecosystem variability. It provides natural sources of crop improvement, traditional medicine and biotechnology. In 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) became a legally binding framework for conserving and utilizing global biological diversity. It recognizes national sovereign rights over all genetic resources, such as the need to compensate developing countries for the resources they have provided to the industrialized world. The CBD grants access to those resources in exchange for compensation as well as technology transfer, so that the access to genetic resources would be made under prior informed consent(PIC) and mutually agreed terms(MAT). On the other hand, the developed countries argued that unfettered exchange of genetic resources was essential for scientific research and development, and that technology using genetic resources should be protected. There are many countries today, developing legal frameworks concerned with access to their local genetic resources and benefit sharing. In this study, we analyzed the international trends for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of genetic resources, and suggested how to cope actively with the situation.