• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2020

Advances in biotechnology have led to progress in crop genetic engineering to improve agricultural productivity. The use of genetically modified (GM) crops has increased, as have consumers' and regulators' concerns about the safety of GM crops to human health, and ecological biodiversity. As such, the identification of GM crops is a critical issue for developers and distributors, and their labeling is mandatory. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been developed and its use validated for the detection and identification of GM crops in quarantine. Herein, we established a simultaneous detection method to identify four GM maize events. Event-specific primers were designed between the junction region of transgene and genome of four GM maize lines, namely 5307, DAS-40278-9, MON87460, and MON87427. To verify the efficiency and accuracy of the multiplex PCR we used specificity analysis, limit of detection evaluation, and mixed certified reference materials identification. The multiplex PCR method was applied to analyze 29 living, modified maize volunteers collected in South Korea in 2018 and 2019. We performed multiplex PCR analysis to identify events and confirmed the result by simplex PCR using each event-specific primer. As a result, rather than detecting each event individually, the simultaneous detection PCR method enabled the rapid analysis of 29 GM maize volunteers. Thus, the novel multiplex PCR method is applicable for living modified organism volunteer identification.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2018

This study was done to develop environmental risk assessments and a biosafety guide for insect-resistant genetically modified rice at a LMO (Living Modified Organism) isolation field. In the LMO quarantine area of Kyungpook National University, the species diversities and population densities of non-target insects found on insect-resistant genetically modified rice (Bt-9) resistant to Cnaphalocrocis medinalis and on non-GM rices (Dongjin and Ilmi) were investigated. The Bt-9 event was therefore evaluated under field conditions to detect possible impacts on the above ground insects and spiders. The study compared transgenic rice and two non-GM reference rices, Ilmi and Dongjin, at Gunwi in Southern Korea in 2016. Each rice was grown on three $18m^2$ plots with a randomized block design. A total of 4,243 individuals from 43 families and 9 orders were collected from the LMO isolation field. In the three types of rice fields, a total of 1,467 individuals from the insect-resistant genetically modified rice (Bt-9), 1,423 individuals from the Ilmi, and 1,353 individuals from the Dongjin were collected, respectively. There was no difference between the population densities of the non-target insect pests, natural enemies and other insects on the insect-resistant genetically modified rice (Bt-9) and non-GM rices. These results provide the diversity and population density of non-target insects for an environment risk assessment survey on insect-resistant genetically modified rice and could be used as a guideline to make a biosafety assessment method for genetically modified crops.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2006

Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants harboring the coat protein(CP) gene of Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus(ZGMMV) were chosen as a model host for the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants with virus resistance. This study was focused on whether new virus type may arise during serial inoculation of one point CP mutant of ZGMMV on the transgenic plants. In vitro transcripts derived from the non-functional CP mutant were inoculated onto the virus-tolerant and -susceptible transgenic N. benthamiana plants. Any notable viral symptoms that could arise on the inoculated transgenic host plants were not detected, even though the inoculation experiment was repeated a total of ten times. This result suggests that potential risk associated with the CP-expressiing transgenic plants may not be significant. However, cautions must be taken as it does not guarantee environmental safety of these CP-mediated virus-resistant plants, considering the limited number of the transgenic plants tested in this study. Further study at a larger scale is needed to evaluate the environmental risk that might be associated with the CP-mediated virus resistant plant.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2001

This work was conducted to observe the housewives´ recognition about GMO products and their opinions about the development and production of GMO. Seventy eight percent of the subjects in this study were aware of GMO and GMO product which is best known to them was bean. Only 6.2% of the subjects considered GMO as safe and 42.1% did not know whether it is safe or not. Most of the subjects were unlikely to choose to purchase the GMO because of unproved safety, but many subjects were willing to purchase if the safety was informed with high reliability, even though 25.9% of the subjects were still negative. But when GMO product is offered with low price compared with ordinary products, only 24.6% were willing to purchase, showing that the safety was considered more important than the low price.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2019

Over the past few decades, microalgae-based biotechnology conjugated with innovative CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic engineering has been attracted much attention for the cost-effective and eco-friendly value-added compounds production. However, the discharge of reproducible living modified organism (LMO) into environmental condition potentially causes serious problem in aquatic environment, and thus it is essential to assess potential environmental risk for human health. Accordingly, in this study, we monitored discharged genetically modified microalgae (GMM) near the research complex which is located in Daejeon, South Korea. After testing samples obtained from 6 points of near streams, several green-colored microalgal colonies were detected under hygromicin-containing agar plate. By identification of selection marker genes, the GMM was not detected from all the samples. For the lab-scale environmental risk assessment of GMM, acute toxicity test using rotifer Brachionus calcyflorus was performed by feeding GMM. After feeding, there was no significant difference in mortality between WT and transformant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. According to further analysis of horizontal transfer of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-coding gene after 24 h of incubation in synthetic freshwater, we concluded that the GFP-expressed gene not transferred into predator. However, further risk assessments and construction of standard methods including prolonged toxicity test are required for the accurate ecological risk assessment.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2014

The cultivation area and use of genetically modified (GM) crops have been increased continuously over the world. Concerns about the potential risks of GM crops are also increasing. Safe management for the development and production of GM crops is required according to Living Modified Organism Act in Korea. Planning about the methods, duration, and frequency of environmental monitoring is also required for commercial use of GM crops. GM Zoysia japonica Steud. (event name: JG21) expressing resistance to glufosinate-ammonium has been generated previously. By using gamma ray treatment to JG21 we also developed male sterility and dwarf Z. japonica (event name: JG21-MS). The objective of this study was to establish the monitoring system for environment release of JG21-MS. In this study we extracted RNA from JG21 and JG21-MS and conducted RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) method to distinguish JG21 and JG21-MS.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.488-497
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• 2018

Quantitative classification of insect fauna in transgenic rice in 2 LMO(Living genetically Modified Organism) isolated paddy fields (Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongbuk National University) and rice in 4 paddy fields(Duryang 1, Duryang 2, Hwagye 1, Hwagye 2), were evaluated for consecutive 5 years (2013 to 2017) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam province, and for 2 consecutive years (2015 to 2016) in Gunwi Gyeongbuk province. Sampling insect fauna were evaluated by black light trapping, sticky trapping, visual surveying, and sweeping methods in each target paddy field, respectively. A total of 37,941 individuals, of 464 species from 15 orders, were collected in Sacheon for 5 years. A total of 10,030 individuals, of 366 species from 13 orders, were collected in Gunwi for 2 years. Based on results of comparison between transgenic and non-transgenic paddy fields for 5 consecutive years, the similarity index between LMO paddy field and common paddy field is not different. Thus, this difference is not due to the environment, not the LMO.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.827-841
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• 2019

The effect of genetically engineered rice Bt-9 on the diversity and abundance of plant-dwelling insects and spiders was tested under field conditions. Genetically engineered rice Bt-9, expressing mCry1Ac1 from Bacillus thuringiensis, confers resistance to rice leaf roller (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) and provides tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate (PPT). The study compared Bt-9 and two non-GM reference varieties, Ilmi-byeo and Dongjin-byeo, at LMO isolated fields in Gunwi (Kyungpook National University) and Jeonju (National Institute Agricultural Sciences) in Southern Korea in 2016 - 2017. A total of 40,817 individuals from 62 families and 11 orders were collected from the two living modified organism (LMO) isolated fields. From the three types of rice fields, a total of 13,982, 14,105, and 12,730 individuals from the Bt-9, Ilmi-byeo and Dongjin-byeo were collected, respectively. Throughout the study, the analysis of variance indicated no significant differences (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the abundance and diversity of plant dwelling insects were similar. The data on insect species population densities were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA), which did not distinguish among the three varieties, Bt-9 and the non-GM, reference cultivars, during the cultivation years. However, the results of the PCA analysis were completely divided into four groups based on the yearly survey areas. Therefore, there was no evidence for a negative impact of Bt-9 on the above-ground insects and spiders.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.305-314
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• 2018

'New Breeding Techniques (NBTs)' have been one of hot issues, since their future will be affected profoundly by national as well as international regulatory landscapes. In this review, we compare characteristics of NBTs with conventional and genetic modification, and analyze genetically modified organism (GMO) regulatory systems in the context of possible regulation of NBTs. NBTs are very heterogeneous in terms of principles, methodologies, and final products. As Living Modified Organisms (LMO) is defined in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) as an organism containing novel combination of genetic materials obtained by the use of modern biotechnology, CPB as well as other national legislations locate itself somewhere in the middle between product-based and process-based regulations. It is also noted that jurisdictions with regulatory systems more oriented to product-based one tend to be more productive and decide or may decide to exempt site-directed nucleases-1 from GMO regulation. In this context, Korean legislations are reviewed to clarify the commons and differences in GMO definitions. Act on Transboundary Movement of LMO Act, Food Sanitation Act and Agricultural and Fishery Products Quality Control Act are three major acts to regulate GMOs. It is noted that there are differences in the definition of LMO or GM food/products especially between the LMO Act and the Food Sanitation Act. Such differences may cause conflicts between Acts when policy-decision regarding the regulation of NBTs is made. Therefore, it is necessary to reorganize legislations before policies regarding the regulation of any techniques from biotechnology are made.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.875-890
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• 2021

In order to confirm the safety of a genetically modified organism (GMO), we assess its potential toxicity on non-target insects and spiders. In this study, the effects of GM soybean, a type of vitamin-A-enhanced transgenic soybean with tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate, were assessed under a field condition. The study compared this vitamin-A-enhanced transgenic soybean and a non-GM soybean (Gwangan) in a living modified organism (LMO) isolated field of Kyungpook National University (Gunwi) and the National Institute Agricultural Sciences (Jeonju) in the Republic of Korea in 2019 - 2020. In total, 207,760 individual insects and arachnids, representing 81 families and 13 orders, were collected during the study. From the two types of soybean fields, corresponding totals of 105,765 and 101,995 individuals from the vitamin-A-enhanced transgenic soybean and Gwangan samples areas were collected. An analysis of variance indicated no significant differences (p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis showed that the dominance and richness outcomes of plant-dwelling insects were similar. The data on insect species population densities were subjected to a principal component analysis (PCA) and an orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), which did not distinguish between the two varieties, i.e., the vitamin-A-enhanced transgenic soybean and the non-GM soybean in any cultivated field. However, the results of the PCA analysis could be divided overall into four groups based on the yearly survey areas. Therefore, there was no evidence for the different impact of vitamin A-enhanced transgenic soybean on the above-ground insects and spiders compared to non-GM soybean.