• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2018

The incidence and mortality of various cancers are associated with sex-specific disparities. Sex differences in cancer epidemiology are one of the most significant findings. Men are more prone to die from cancer, particularly hematological malignancies. Sex difference in cancer incidence is attributed to regulation at the genetic/molecular level and sex hormones such as estrogen. At the genetic/molecular level, gene polymorphism and altered enzymes involving drug metabolism generate differences in cancer incidence between men and women. Sex hormones modulate gene expression in various cancers. Genetic or hormonal differences between men and women determine the effect of chemotherapy. Until today, animal studies and clinical trials investigating chemotherapy showed sex imbalance. Chemotherapy has been used without consideration of sex differences, resulting in disparity of efficacy and toxicity between sexes. Based on accumulating evidence supporting sex differences in chemotherapy, all clinical trials in cancer must incorporate sex differences for a better understanding of biological differences between men and women. In the present review, we summarized the sex differences in (1) incidence and mortality of cancer, (2) genetic and molecular basis of cancer, (3) sex hormones in cancer incidence, and (4) efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy. This review provides useful information for sex-based chemotherapy and development of personalized therapeutic strategies against cancer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate genetic development and genotype${\times}$environment interactions (GEI) in postweaning body weight of fattening bulls at the end of test period (WT-T) under various beef fattening environments. Data on a total of 24,247 fattening bulls obtained from the industrial farm, breeding farms and testing stations were used. Heritability estimates for WT-T in all environments were nearly similar. Significant genetic developments of sire, dam and progenies for WT-T were observed in all environments. However, many differences in annual genetic developments between the environments were significant. The genetic correlations for WT-T between industrial farm and breeding farms, industrial farm and testing stations and breeding farms and testing stations were respectively 0.004, 0.004 and 0.013. These low estimates of genetic correlations and significant differences in genetic developments among environments clearly show the existence of GEI for WT-T among various fattening environments. Results of this study indicate the need for environment-specific genetic evaluation and selection of beef bulls for commercial beef production.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 1995

Raphanus sativus L. var. hortensis f. raphanistroides (wild radish: Brassicaceae), a herbaceous perennial, occurs only on beaches in East Asia. Genetic diversity and population structure of seven Korean populations were investigated using starch gel electrophoresis. Although the Korean populatins are small, isolated with patchy distribution, the population maintain a moderate level of genetic diversity; the mean percentage fo polymorphic loci was 51.4%, mean number of alleles per locus was 1.84, and mean expected heterozygosity was 0.116. A combination of animal-outcrossing breeding system, wide geographical distribution, restricted ecological distribution, and a propensity for high fecundity may in part be explanatory factors contributing the moderate level of genetic diversity within populations. An overall excess of homozygotes relative to Hardy-Weinberg expetations (mean FISa=0.116) indicates that consanguineous mating occur within wild radish populations, leading to a family structure within a circumscribed area. Although population of wild radish experience a limited gene flow, only 5% of the total genetic variation found in Korean wild radish populations examined is due to differences among populations (mean GST=0.052). This value is considerably lower than the mean values of species with similar life history and ecological characteristics. However, significant differences were found in allele frequencies between populations for all polymorphic loci (P<0.01). It is supposed that directional selection toward genetic uniformity (similar gene frequencies) in a relatively homogenous habitat is thought to be operated among Korean wild radish populations.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2019

Genomic DNA samples were obtained from cultured penaeid shrimp (Penaeus chinensis) individuals such as fresh shrimp population (FSP) and deceased shrimp population (DSP) from Shinan regions in the Korean peninsula. In this study, 233 loci were identified in the FSP shrimp population and 162 in the DSP shrimp population: 33 specific loci (14.2%) in the FSP shrimp population and 42 (25.9%) in the DSP population. A total of 66 (an average of 9.4 per primer) were observed in DSP shrimp population, whereas 55 unique loci to each population (an average of 7.9 per primer) in the FSP shrimp population. The Hierarchical dendrogram extended by the seven oligonucleotides primers indicates three genetic clusters: cluster 1 (FRESH 01, 02, and DECEASED 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22) and cluster 2 (FRESH 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, and DECEASED 14, 18, 21). Among the twenty-two shrimp, the shortest genetic distance that exposed significant molecular differences was between individuals 20 and 16 from the DSP shrimp population (genetic distance=0.071), while the longest genetic distance among the twenty-two individuals that established significant molecular differences was between individuals FRESH no. 02 and FRESH no. 04 (genetic distance=0.477). In due course, PCR analysis has revealed the significant genetic distance among two penaeid shrimp populations.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2014

The twenty-one individuals of Meretrix lusoria were secured from Gunsan, Shinan and Yeonggwang on the coast of the Yellow Sea and the southern sea in the Korean Peninsula, respectively. Amplification of a single COI fragment (720 bp) was imagined, and no apparent size differences were observed in amplified fragments between Meretrix lusoria and M. petechialis individuals. The size of the DNA fragments also varied excitedly, from 200 to 1,600 bp. The oligonucleotides primer BION-08 produced the least loci (a total of 17), with an average of 2.43 in the Gunsan population, in comparison to the other primers used. Remarkably, the primer BION-13 detected 42 shared loci by the three populations, major and/or minor fragments of sizes 200 bp and 400 bp, respectively, which were identical in all samples. The dendrogram gained by the seven oligonucleotides primers highlight three genetic clusters: cluster 1 (GUNSAN 01 ~ GUNSAN 07), cluster 2 (SHINAN 08 ~ SHINAN 14) and cluster 3 (YEONGGWANG 15 ~ YEONGGWANG 21). The longest genetic distance among the twenty-one Meretrix lusoria individuals that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals GUNSAN no. 01 and SHINAN no. 14 (genetic distance = 0.574). Comparatively, individuals of SHINAN population were fairly closely related to that of YEONGGWANG population. In this study, PCR analysis has discovered significant genetic distances between two white clam population pairs (P<0.05).

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2012

The gDNA isolated from Cyclina sinensis from Gochang (GOCHANG), Incheon (INCHEON) and a Chinese site (CHINESE), were amplified by PCR. Here, the seven oligonucleotide decamer primers (BION-66, BION-68, BION-72, BION-73, BION-74, BION-76, and BION-80) were used to generate the unique shared loci to each population and shared loci by the three cyclina clam populations. As regards multiple comparisons of average bandsharing value results, cyclina clam population from Chinese (0.763) exhibited higher bandsharing values than did clam from Incheon (0.681). In this study, the dendrogram obtained by the seven decamer primers indicates three genetic clusters: cluster 1 (GOCHANG 01~GOCHANG 07), cluster 2 (INCHEON 08~INCHEON 14), cluster 3 (CHINESE 15~CHINESE 21). The shortest genetic distance that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals 15 and 17 from the Chinese cyclina clam (0.049), while the longest genetic distance among the twenty-one cyclina clams that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals GOCHANG no. 03 and INCHEON no. 12 (0.575). Individuals of Incheon cyclina clam population was somewhat closely related to that of Chinese cyclina clam population. In conclusion, our PCR analysis revealed a significant genetic distance among the three cyclina clam populations.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.416-421
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• 2013

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have become popular as an approach for the identification of large numbers of phenotype-associated variants. However, differences in genetic architecture and environmental factors mean that the effect of variants can vary across populations. Understanding population genetic diversity is valuable for the investigation of possible population specific and independent effects of variants. EvoSNP-DB aims to provide information regarding genetic diversity among East Asian populations, including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Non-redundant SNPs (1.6 million) were genotyped in 54 Korean trios (162 samples) and were compared with 4 million SNPs from HapMap phase II populations. EvoSNP-DB provides two user interfaces for data query and visualization, and integrates scores of genetic diversity (Fst and VarLD) at the level of SNPs, genes, and chromosome regions. EvoSNP-DB is a web-based application that allows users to navigate and visualize measurements of population genetic differences in an interactive manner, and is available online at [http://biomi.cdc.go.kr/EvoSNP/].

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2023

Korean native ducks (KNDs) continue to have a high preference from consumers due to their excellent meat quality and taste characteristics. However, due to low productivity and fixed plumage color phenotype, it could not secure a large share in the domestic market compared to imported species. In order to improve the market share of KNDs, the genetic characteristics of the breed should be identified and used for improvement and selection. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the genetic information of colored and white KNDs using next-generation resequencing data and screening for differences between the two groups. As a result of the analysis, the genetic variants that showed significant differences between the colored and white KND groups were mainly identified as mutations related to tyrosine activity. The variants were located in the genes that affect melanin synthesis and regulation, such as EGFR, PDGFRA, and DDR2, and these were reported as the candidate genes related to plumage pigmentation in poultry. Therefore, the results of this study are expected to be useful as a basis for understanding and utilizing the genetic characteristics of KNDs for genetic improvement and selection of white broiler KNDs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2010

The gDNA isolated from Korean cuttle fish (Sepia esculenta Hoyle) from Sockcho (SOCKCHO), Seocheon (SEOCHEON), Incheon (INCHEON) and Vietnamese cuttle fish (VIETNAM), were amplified by PCR. Here, the seven selected primers (BION-A07, BION-A09, BION-A11, BION-A20, BION-B04, BION-B06, and BION-B14) were used to generate the unique shared loci to each population and shared loci by the four cuttle fish populations. In this study, the primer BION-A11 detected 112 shared loci by the four populations, major and/or minor fragments of sizes 300 bp, 400 bp, 700 bp and 1,000 bp, respectively, which were identical in all samples. The dendrogram obtained by the seven primers indicates five genetic clusters: cluster 1 (SOCKCHO 01-SOCKCHO 07), cluster 2 (SEOCHEON 08-SEOCHEON 10), cluster 3 (SEOCHEON 11-SEOCHEON 14), cluster 4 (INCHEON 15-INCHEON 21), and cluster 5 (VIETNAM 22-VIETNAM 28). The shortest genetic distance that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals 25 and 26 from the Vietnamese cuttle fish (0.025), while the longest genetic distance among the twenty-eight cuttle fishes that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals SOCKCHO no. 02 and SEOCHEON no. 12 (0.640). Individual of Seocheon and Incheon cuttle populations was somewhat closely related to that of Vietnamese cuttle fish population. Even though it could not be affirmed by a single case, such a result seems to be closely connected that the Korean peninsula is subject to climate changes by global warming. In conclusion, our PCR analyses revealed a significant genetic distance among the four cuttle fish populations.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to investigate the individual characteristics, lifestyle habits, exposure levels, and genetic diversity of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes involved in toluene metabolism in Korean and foreign workers exposed to toluene at a manufacturing plant. This study was conducted to determine the effects of culture or ethnicity on toluene metabolism. The results showed that blood and urinary toluene concentrations were dependent on the level of exposure to toluene. We analyzed the correlation between toluene metabolism and genetic diversity in glutathione S-transferase (GST) (M1), GSTT1, and cytochrome p-450 (CYP) $2E1^*5$ as well as lifestyle habits (smoking, drinking, and exercise habits). The results revealed significant correlations between toluene metabolism and GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic diversity, as well as smoking and exercise.