• Title/Summary/Keyword: Genetic Information

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Protection of Human Genetic Information and Citizens Participation (인간 유전정보 보호와 시민참여)

  • Lee Young-Hee;Kim Myoung-Jin;Kim Byoung-Soo
    • Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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    • v.3 no.1 s.5
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    • pp.41-73
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    • 2003
  • Personal genetic information is information about a person's genetic characteristics, which may reveal important information about private matters such as susceptibility to disease. Progress in genetics makes it much easier to obtain personal genetic information, and this leads to concerns about confidentiality and security of genetic information, and about possible genetic discrimination. This paper examines social issues related to human genetic information in terms of individual identification, diagnosis of diseases, and non-medical genetic test, and then tries to provide desirable citizens participation methods that can be used when making public policies related to genetic information protection.

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Genealogical Relationship between Pedigree and Microsatellite Information and Analysis of Genetic Structure of a Highly Inbred Japanese Black Cattle Strain

  • Sasazaki, S.;Honda, T.;Fukushima, M.;Oyama, K.;Mannen, H.;Mukai, F.;Tsuji, S.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.17 no.10
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    • pp.1355-1359
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    • 2004
  • Japanese Black cattle of Hyogo prefecture (Tajima strain) are famous for its ability to produce high-quality meat and have been maintained as a closed system for more than 80 years. In order to assess the usefulness of microsatellite markers in closed cattle populations, and evaluate the genetic structure of the Tajima strain, we analyzed representative dams of the Tajima strain comprised of the substrains Nakadoi and Kinosaki. Genetic variability analyses indicated low genetic diversity in the Tajima strain. In addition, a recent genetic bottleneck, which could be accounted for by the high level of inbreeding, was detected in both substrains. In phylogenetic analyses, relationship coefficients and genetic distances between individuals were calculated using pedigree and microsatellite information. Two phylogenetic trees were constructed from microsatellite and pedigree information using the UPGMA method. Both trees illustrated that most individuals were distinguished clearly on the basis of the two substrains, although in the microsatellite tree some individuals appeared in clusters of different substrains. Comparing the two phylogenetic trees revealed good consistency between the microsatellite analysis tree and the pedigree information. The correlation coefficient between genetic distances derived from microsatellite and pedigree information was 0.686 with a high significance level (p<0.001). These results indicated that microsatellite information may provide data substantially equivalent to pedigree information even in unusually inbred herds of cattle, and suggested that microsatellite markers may be useful in revealing genetic structure without accurate or complete pedigree nformation. Japanese Black cattle of Hyogo prefecture (Tajima strain) are famous for its ability to produce high-quality meat and have been maintained as a closed system for more than 80 years. In order to assess the usefulness of microsatellite markers in closed cattle populations, and evaluate the genetic structure of the Tajima strain, we analyzed representative dams of the Tajima strain comprised of the substrains Nakadoi and Kinosaki. Genetic variability analyses indicated low genetic diversity in the Tajima strain. In addition, a recent genetic bottleneck, which could be accounted for by the high level of inbreeding, was detected in both substrains. In phylogenetic analyses, relationship coefficients and genetic distances between individuals were calculated using pedigree and microsatellite information. Two phylogenetic trees were constructed from microsatellite and pedigree information using the UPGMA method. Both trees illustrated that most individuals were distinguished clearly on the basis of the two substrains, although in the microsatellite tree some individuals appeared in clusters of different substrains. Comparing the two phylogenetic trees revealed good consistency between the microsatellite analysis tree and the pedigree information. The correlation coefficient between genetic distances derived from microsatellite and pedigree information was 0.686 with a high significance level (p<0.001). These results indicated that microsatellite information may provide data substantially equivalent to pedigree information even in unusually inbred herds of cattle, and suggested that microsatellite markers may be useful in revealing genetic structure without accurate or complete pedigree information.

Genetic counseling in Korean health care system (유전상담의 제도적인 고찰)

  • Kim, Hyon-J.
    • Journal of Genetic Medicine
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.1-5
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    • 2007
  • Unprecedented amount of genetic information being generated from the result of Human Genome Project (HGP) and advances in genetic research is already forcing changes in the paradigm of health and disease. The ultimate goal of genetic medicine is to use genetic information and technology to develop new ways of treatment or even prevention of the disease on an individual level for 'personalized medicine'. Genetics is play ing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, monitoring and management of common multifactorial diseases in addition to rare single-gene disorders. While wide range of genetic testing have provided benefits to patients and family, uncertainties surrounding test interpretation, the current lack of available medical options for the diseases, and risks for discrimination and social stigmatization may remain to be resolved. However an increasing number of genetic tests are becoming commercially available, including direct to consumer genetic testing, yet public is often unaw are of their clinical and social implications. The personal nature of information generated by a genetic test, its power to affect major life decisions and family members, and its potential misuse raise important ethical considerations. Therefore appropriate genetic counseling is needed for patient to be informed with the benefits, limitations and risks of genetic tests, prior to informed consent for the tests. Physician also should be familiar with the legal and ethical issues involved in genetic testing to tell patients how w ell a particular genetic risk factor relates with likelihood of disease, and be able to provide appropriate genetic counseling. Genetic counseling become a mandatory requirement as global standard for many genetic testing such as prenatal diagnosis, presymtomatic DNA diagnostic tests and cancer susceptibility gene test for familial cancer syndrome. In oder to meet the challenge of genetic medicine of 21 century in korean health care system, professional education program and certification board for medical genetics specialist including non-MD genetic counselors should be addressed by medical society and regulatory policy of national health insurance reimbursement for genetic counseling to be in place to promote the implementation of clinical genetic service including genetic counseling for proper genetic testing.

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Legal and Regulatory Issues in Genetic Information Discrimination - Focusing on Overseas Regulatory Trends and Domestic Implications - (유전정보 차별금지의 법적문제 - 외국의 규율 동향과 그 시사점을 중심으로 -)

  • Yang, Ji Hyun;Kim, So Yoon
    • The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.237-264
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    • 2017
  • With the onset of the Human Genome Project, social concerns about 'genetic information discrimination' have been raised, but the problem has not yet been highlighted in Korea. However, non-medical institutions' genetic testing which is related to disease prevention could be partially allowed under the revised "Bioethics and Safety Act" from June 30, 2016. In the case of one domestic insurance company, DTC genetic testing was provided for the new customer of cancer insurance as a complimentary service, which made the social changes related to the recognition of the genetic testing. At a time when precision medicine is becoming a new standard for medical care, discipline on genetic information discrimination has become a problem that can not be delayed anymore. Article 46 and 67 of the Bioethics Act stipulate the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of genetic information and penalties for its violation. However, these broad principles alone can not solve the problems in specific genetic information utilization areas such as insurance and employment. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany have different regulations that prohibit genetic information based discrimination. In the United States, Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act takes a form that adds to the existing law about the prohibition of genetic information discrimination. In addition, the range of genetic information includes the results of genetic tests of individuals and their families, including "family history". Canada has recently enacted legislation in 2017, expanding coverage to general transactions of goods or services in addition to insurance and employment. The United Kingdom deals only with 'predictive genetic testing results of individuals'. In the case of insurance, the UK government and Association of British Insurers (ABI) agree to abide by a policy framework ('Concordat') for cooperation that provides that insurers' use of genetic information is transparent, fair and subject to regular reviews; and remain committed to the voluntary Moratorium on insurers' use of predictive genetic test results until 1 November 2019, and a review of the Concordat in 2016. In the case of employment, The ICO's 'Employment Practices Code (2011)' is used as a guideline. In Germany, Human Genetic Examination Act(Gesetz ${\ddot{u}}ber$ genetische Untersuchungen bei Menschen) stipulates a principle ban on the demand for genetic testing and the submission of results in employment and insurance. The evaluation of the effectiveness of regulatory framework, as well as the form and scope of the discipline is different from country to country. In light of this, it would be desirable for the issue of genetic information discrimination in Korea to be addressed based on the review of related regulations, the participation of experts, and the cooperation of stakeholders.

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A Water-saving Irrigation Decision-making Model for Greenhouse Tomatoes based on Genetic Optimization T-S Fuzzy Neural Network

  • Chen, Zhili;Zhao, Chunjiang;Wu, Huarui;Miao, Yisheng
    • KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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    • v.13 no.6
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    • pp.2925-2948
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    • 2019
  • In order to improve the utilization of irrigation water resources of greenhouse tomatoes, a water-saving irrigation decision-making model based on genetic optimization T-S fuzzy neural network is proposed in this paper. The main work are as follows: Firstly, the traditional genetic algorithm is optimized by introducing the constraint operator and update operator of the Krill herd (KH) algorithm. Secondly, the weights and thresholds of T-S fuzzy neural network are optimized by using the improved genetic algorithm. Finally, on the basis of the real data set, the genetic optimization T-S fuzzy neural network is used to simulate and predict the irrigation volume for greenhouse tomatoes. The performance of the genetic algorithm improved T-S fuzzy neural network (GA-TSFNN), the traditional T-S fuzzy neural network algorithm (TSFNN), BP neural network algorithm(BPNN) and the genetic algorithm improved BP neural network algorithm (GA-BPNN) is compared by simulation. The simulation experiment results show that compared with the TSFNN, BPNN and the GA-BPNN, the error of the GA-TSFNN between the predicted value and the actual value of the irrigation volume is smaller, and the proposed method has a better prediction effect. This paper provides new ideas for the water-saving irrigation decision in greenhouse tomatoes.

Genetic Modification of Coffee Plants

  • Shinjiro Ogita;Hirotaka Uefuji;Park, Yong-Eui;Tomoko Hatanaka;Mikihiro Ogawa;Yube Yamaguchi;Nozomu Koizumi;Hiroshi Sano
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.4 no.3
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    • pp.91-94
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    • 2002
  • An efficient molecular breeding technique for coffee plants was developed. In order to produce transgenic coffee plants, we established a model transformation procedure via Agrobacterium method. We isolated a gene encoding a protein possessing 7-methylxanthine methyltransferase (theobromine synthase) activity, and it was designated as Coffea arabica 7-methylxanthine methyl transferase; CaMXMT. Using this clone, we produced transgenic coffee plants, in which the expression of CaMXMT is suppressed by double-stranded RNA interference (RNAi) andlor anti-sense methods. The expression pattern of CaMXMT was analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR method and we found that, in the transformed cell lines, the level of transcripts were obviously suppressed by RNAi. The endogenous level of caffeine in the transformed cells was dramatically reduced in comparison with non-transformed cells.