• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.485-493
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• 2006

Lactococcus species are noninvasive and nonpathogenic microorganisms that are widely used in industrial food fermentation and as well-known probiotics. They have been modified by traditional methods and genetic engineering to produce useful food-grade materials. The application of genetically modified lactococci in the food industry requires their genetic elements to be safe and stable from integration with endogenous food microorganisms. In addition, selection for antibiotic-resistance genes should be avoided. Several expression and secretion signals have been developed for the production and secretion of useful proteins in lactococci. Food-grade systems composed of genetic elements from lactic acid bacteria have been developed. Recent developments in this area have focused on food-grade selection markers, stabilization, and integration strategies, as well as approaches for controlled gene expression and secretion of foreign proteins. This paper reviews the expression and secretion signals available in lactococci and the development of food-grade markers, food-grade cloning vectors, and integrative food-grade systems.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2012

For the quantitative analysis of genetically modified (GM) maize in processed foods, primer sets and probes based on the 35S promoter (p35S), nopaline synthase terminator (tNOS), p35S-hsp70 intron, and zSSIIb gene encoding starch synthase II for intrinsic control were designed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products (80~101 bp) were specifically amplified and the primer sets targeting the smaller regions (80 or 81 bp) were more sensitive than those targeting the larger regions (94 or 101 bp). Particularly, the primer set 35F1-R1 for p35S targeting 81 bp of sequence was even more sensitive than that targeting 101 bp of sequence by a 3-log scale. The target DNA fragments were also specifically amplified from all GM labeled food samples except for one item we tested when 35F1-R1 primer set was applied. A reference plasmid pGMmaize (3 kb) including the smaller PCR products for p35S, tNOS, p35S-hsp70 intron, and the zSSIIb gene was constructed for real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The linearity of standard curves was confirmed by using diluents ranging from $2{\times}10^1{\sim}10^5$ copies of pGMmaize and the $R^2$ values ranged from 0.999~1.000. In the RT-PCR, the detection limit using the novel primer/probe sets was 5 pg of genomic DNA from MON810 line indicating that the primer sets targeting the smaller regions (80 or 81 bp) could be used for highly sensitive detection of foreign DNA fragments from GM maize in processed foods.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.177-184
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• 2004

This study performed compositional analyses of a genetically modified herbicide-tolerant red pepper (GMHT), developed by the Rural Development Administration, and a parental red pepper cultivar 'Subicho', and compared the nutrient composition of them. Using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) methods, the study measured the concentration of nutrients, including the proximate components (protein, fat, fiber, ash, and carbohydrates) and minerals (Ca, K, Na, Fe, Mg, Zn) of GMHT and 'Subicho'. Nutritional composition of GMHT and 'Subicho' were compared with the nutritional composition of conventional red peppers. The nutrient composition of GMHT and 'Subicho' were found similar, and GMHT's nutrient contents were in the range of those of the conventional red peppers. These results showed that GMHT's nutrient contents were equivalent to those of the parental red pepper and other conventional red peppers.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.19-30
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• 2003

In this study, housewives' attitudes toward genetically modified foods (GM foods) and their willingness to purchase GM foods were examined. The findings of this study could provide useful information for consumer education and consumer policy development regarding GM foods. The specific purposes of this study were: (1) to examine consumers' attitudes toward GM foods, (2) to analyze the effect of the perception of GM foods and demographic variables on consumers' attitudes toward GM foods, and (3) to analyze the effect of the perception of GM foods and demographic variables on consumers' willingness to purchase GM foods. The questionnaire used in the survey was constructed by the author, based on existing literature. The survey was conducted with 1,100 housewives, and 723 of the completed survey forms were used in the final analysis. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, t-tests, ANOVA, Duncan-test, Pearson's Correlation, factor analysis, and discriminant analysis were employed for data analysis methods. Major findings are: (1) Consumers' attitudes toward GM foods consist of three factors, that are, attitude regarding potential danger, attitude regarding the use of GM technique on plants, and attitude regarding the use of GM technique on animals. (2) Consumers with a higher level of education tend to perceive GM food as more dangerous, whereas consumers with a lower level of education tend to accept more the use of GM technique on plants. (3) Consumers who tend not to consider GM foods as dangerous, and those who acknowledged benefits in using GM technique on plants are more willing to buy GM foods.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.157-165
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• 2002

A two-year survey of consumers'awareness and perception of genetically-modified (GM) foods was conducted during May through September of 2000 and 2001 with a random sample of Korean consumers. More than 68% of the respondents were exposed to some information related to GM foods. The greatest benefit of the development of GM foods was thought to be the remedy for the food shortage in the future. More than 90% of Korean consumers wanted GM foods to be labeled. About 18% of the respondents would buy GM foods voluntarily, whereas over 49% would not until they found out more. Only 40% of Korean consumers were found to realize that food items originated ken plants contain genes. More consumers responded that they would not buy herbicide-tolerant GM soybean but buy vitamin-enriched GM soybean. It seemed to be that many Korean consumers do not make decisions of acceptance or rejection of GM foods not on the basis of biotechnology but on the basis of the word(5) used to describe the products, such as herbicide and vitamin. Only 4% of Korean consumers responded that GM foods were the greatest safety-threatening factor of Korean foods.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.658-662
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• 2011

In this study, 543 samples of press hams, sausages, processed ground meat and processed cheese acquired from retail markets in Seoul and Gyeonggi province in Korea from 2005 to 2010 were monitored using a one-step multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method that involves the amplification of specific soya or maize endogenous genes and the amplification of 35S promoter (p35S) and nopaline synthase terminator (tNOS) for GMO detection. Among the 543 samples, 477 samples were amplified for maize and/or soybean endogenous genes. Although one sausage sample collected in 2008 showed amplification of tNOS, the result was assumed to be false positive based on the results from further tests of other sausage samples of the same brand. Our results demonstrate the absence of GM soya and/or maze of livestock products in the Korean market during 2005-2010. In addition, the one-step multiplex PCR using previously constructed primer sets appears to be useful as a screening method for the detection of GMOs in processed livestock products. However, more specific methods should be established and employed to detect the event-specific GM gene for positive reaction samples by screening tests in processed livestock products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.105-109
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• 2010

This study was conducted to analyze nutrient composition of a genetically modified $\beta$-carotene biofortified rice (GM rice), developed by the Rural Development Admistration in Korea. The nutritional constituents of GM rice were compared with those of the parental rice cultivar 'Nakdong' as a non-GM control to access nutritional equivalence. Proximate components (moisture, starch, protein, lipid, and ash) of the GM rice were similar to those of the conventional non-GM rice. $\beta$-Carotene contents of GM brown and milled rice were 2.35, 2.03 ${\mu}g/g$(d.b.), respectively. There were no significant differences between the GM and non-GM rice with respect to most of their nutrient composition, despite minor differences in most amino acids and minerals. This result demonstrated that the nutritional composition of this GM rice would be equivalent to that of the parental non-GM rice without major changes in its chemical contents.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.333-345
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• 2000

The objectives of this study were to review various aspects of society on Genetically Modified Organism(GMO) in the view point of environmental sociology. There were many assertions related to GMO, and application of biotechnology. Some people assert GMO as harmful to human health, and some people as not harmful, however, there were no proven evidences to report. Through the literature review, this study intended; 1) to identify the present condition of GMO, 2) to weigh the pros against cons of views on GMO, 3) to study an aspect of society on GMO, and 4) to assert its necessity to mark GMO or not, because citizens have a rights to know natural or GMO. Based on the conclusions of this study, following recommendations were offered: 1) To review continually the GMO in the view point of environmental sociology especially in the areas of food safety, biosafety, trade, and public research investment, and 2) further detailed studies of GMO may necessary to ensure safety to human health and environment.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.221-224
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• 2014

Genetically modified (GM) crops are not permitted to be cultivated in Korea, but can only be imported as food or feed purposes. The import of GM crops has sharply increased in recent years, thus raising concerns with regard to the unintentional escape of these crops during transport and manufacturing as well as the subsequent contamination of local, non-GM plants. Hence, monitoring of GM crops was studied in or outside of grain receiving ports as well as from feed-processing plants in Korea during July 2008. We observed spilled maize grains and established plants primarily in storage facilities that are exposed around the harbors and near transportation routes of the feed-processing areas. Based on the PCR analyses, a total of 17 GM maize plants and 11 seeds were found among the samples. In most cases, the established maize plants found in this study were at the vegetative stage and thus failed to reach the reproductive stage. This study concludes that, in order to prevent a genetic admixture in the local environment for GM crops or seeds, frequent monitoring work and proper action should be taken.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 2003

Various kinds of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and processed foods have been developed during recent years. Genetically modified organisms can be classified into several groups as their development methods. Generally, GMO has three foreign DNA regions such as gene expression adjustment region(Promoter), termination region (terminator) and structure gene. Detection of these regions can be done particularly by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR-based detection can virtually be performed for any GMO within short of time. The most important prerequisite for the application of PCR-based detection is to decide abstraction method of efficient nucleic acids. Specially, in the case of processed food, because nucleic acids of foodstuffs are damaged by heat treatment (sterilization), pressure and fermentation, DNA must be extracted ken the samples prior to PCR analysis. Although many DNA extraction protocols are available, they have rarely been compared in a comprehensive method. In this study low widely used commercial and non-commercial DNA extraction methods-DNeasy$^{TM}$, Wizard$^{TM}$, CTAB, phenol/chloroform system-were compared with respect to the quality and yield of nucleic acids and insertion genes.nes.