• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.156-160
• /
• 2013

A duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed to detect unapproved genetically modified (GM) potato (EH92-527-1) in Korea. The UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) gene was selected as an endogenous reference gene for potato and used to validate the specificity for 14 different crops. The primer pair EH92-F/R was designed to amplify the junction sequence between the genome and transgenic region introduced in GM potato. Its specificity was also validated using several different GM events. The detection limit of the duplex PCR method is approximately 0.05%. This duplex PCR method could be useful for monitoring cultivation of unauthorized GM potato in Korea.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.31-66
• /
• 2011

The main issue in Korean debates over genetically modified (GM) foods have been government's responsibility to guarantee consumers' right-to-know and make informed choice. Counter-experts' critique over the current regulatory processes based upon substantial equivalence have not been widely publicized. Through interviews and textual analysis, this paper explored three groups' performances in Korean GM food controversies-regulatory scientists, civil society organizations, and counter-experts. Analytic focus was made upon how each of the groups interact with current GM food regulations. While making conflicts with regulatory scientists and their 'discourse of compliance with global standards,' counter-experts were excluded from regulatory processes. This article suggests that the processes and contexts in which counter-experts failed to form strong alliance with other groups need to be examined in order to further understand the specific contours of Korean GM food controversies.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.159-165
• /
• 2015

The cultivation area and use of genetically modified (GM) crops have been increased continuously over the world and concerns about the potential risks of GM crops are also increasing. One of the major concern in risk assessment is the possible development of hybrids through interspecific and intergeneric crosses with related species. This study was conducted to investigate the pollinator have an influence on insect-mediated gene transfer from GM soybeans. Hybrid was induced from GM soybeans by honeybee and western flower thrips, and non-GM soybeans were used as pollen receptor. The analysis for gene-flow was conducted by herbicide selection, immunostrip test, and PCR analysis. In the result of the analysis, three hybrids were detected on the distance 15, 75, 105 cm from pollen source in western flower thrips treatment. In honeybee treatment, one hybrid was detected in the farthest distance (300 cm). These results suggested honeybee and western flower thrips have a possibility they can transfer the introduced gene from GM soybeans to non-GM soybeans.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.182-190
• /
• 2008

A survey on consumer's awareness and perception toward genetically-modified(GM) foods was conducted on 2110 random samples of Korean consumers. More than 65% of the respondents were exposed to some information related to GM foods. The respondents answered that the greatest benefit of the development of GM foods is remedy of potential food shortages in the future. More than 90% of Korean consumers wanted GM foods to be labeled as such. More than 50% of the respondents would not buy until they know more about GM foods. Only 35.8% of Korean consumers were found to know that food items originating from plants contained genes. More consumers responded that they would not buy herbicide-resistant GM soybean but buy vitamin-enriched GM soybean. Many Korean consumers' decision of acceptance or rejection of GM foods depend not on the basis of biotechnology, but on the basis of the degree of benefit to the consumers. Only 6.4% of Korean consumers responded that GM foods were the greatest threat to the safety of Korean foods. The perception of Korean consumers on GM foods has not changed significantly during the past 5 years.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.730-735
• /
• 2013

This study compared the nutritional components (proximate components, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals and vitamins) between genetically modified (GM) drought-tolerant rice and a parental rice cultivar (Ilmibyeo) as a non-GM control. Both GM and non-GM rices were grown and harvested in two different locations, Gunwi and Suweon in Korea. Proximate components (moisture, starch, protein, lipid, and ash contents) were similar between the drought-tolerant GM rice and the conventional non-GM rice. There were no significant differences between the GM and non-GM rice in most of their nutrient compositions, despite minor locational differences of some amino acids and minerals. These results indicate that transgenic rice with a genetically improved resistance to drought is equivalent to the parental rice cultivar without major changes in its chemical contents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.11
• /
• pp.1778-1783
• /
• 2006

Event-specific PCR detection methods are the primary trend in genetically modified (GM) plant detection owing to their high specificity based on the flanking sequence of the exogenous integrant. Therefore, this study describes a real-time PCR system for event-specific GM canola GT73, consisting of a set of primers, TaqMan probe, and single target standard plasmid. For the specific detection of GT73 canola, the 3'-integration junction sequence between the host plant DNA and the integrated specific border was targeted. To validate the proposed method, test samples of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10% GT73 canola were quantified. The method was also assayed with 15 different plants, and no amplification signal was observed in a real-time PCR assay with any of the species tested, other than GT73 canola.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.1118-1123
• /
• 2009

Event-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method for genetically modified (GM) maize MIR604 was developed based on integration junction sequences between the host plant genome and the integrated transgene. In this study, 2 primer pairs and probes were designed for specific amplification of 100 and 111 bp DNA fragments from the zSSIIb gene (the maize endogenous reference gene) and MIR604. The quantitative method was validated using 3 certified reference materials (CRMs) with levels of 0.1, 1, and 10% MIR604. The method was also assayed with 14 different plants and other GM maize. No amplification signal was observed in real-time PCR assays with any of the species tested other than MIR604 maize. As a result, the bias from the true value and the relative deviation for MIR604 was within the range from 0 to 9%. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), varied from 2.7 to 10% for MIR604. Limits of detections (LODs) of qualitative and quantitative methods were all 0.1%. These results indicated that the event-specific quantitative PCR detection system for MIR604 is accurate and useful.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.157-161
• /
• 2014

Understanding the gene flow from genetically modified (GM) crops to conventional crops is important to prevent and mitigate seed contamination caused by pollen-mediated gene flow. We conducted a field test to investigate the gene flow from diamondback moth resistant GM cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) containing cry1Ac1 gene, to a non-GM control line AD126. GM and non-GM cabbage plants were cultivated in the field and pollinated using Bombus terrestris under the nets during the flowering periods. After seeds were collected from non-GM plants, hybrids between them and the GM cabbages were screened by multiplex PCR targeting cry1Ac1 gene. Out of 878 germinated seedlings, 168 hybrids were found and the average gene flow frequency was 19.7%. Because cabbage is mainly pollinated by insect pollinators, large-scale field tests are needed to study gene flow of GM cabbage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.335-341
• /
• 2007

For the development of qualitative and quantitative PCR methods of genetically modified (GM) pepper developed in Korea, a capsanthin-capsorubin synthase (CCS) gene was used as the endogenous reference gene. The primer pair ccs-F/R amplifying the pepper endogenous gene gave rise to an amplicon of 102 bp. No amplified product was observed when DNA samples from 16 different plants were used as templates. The construct-specific primer pairs amplifying the junction region of the bar gene and Ti7 introduced in GM pepper gave rise to an amplicon of 182 bp. Quantitative PCR assay was performed using a TaqMan probe and a standard plasmid as a reference molecule, which contained both an endogenous and event-specific sequence. For the validation of this method, the test samples containing 0.1, 1, 3, 5, and 10% GM pepper were quantified.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.829-832
• /
• 2008

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed to simultaneously detect 4 varieties of genetically modified (GM) cotton. The event-specific primers were used to distinguish the 4 varieties of GM cotton (MON1445, MON15985, MON88913, and LLcotton25) using multiplex PCR. The acyl carrier protein 1 (Acp1) gene was used as an endogenous reference gene of cotton in the PCR detection. The primer pair Acp1-AF/AR containing a 99 bp amplicon was used to amplify the Acp1 gene and no amplified product was observed in any of the 13 different plants used as templates. This multiplex PCR method allowed for the detection of event-specific targets in a genomic DNA mixture of up to 1% GM cotton containing MON1445, MON15985, MON88913, and LLcotton25.