• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2013

Paeonia lactiflora is a valuable natural resource for horticulture and traditional Chinese medicine. To propose conservation strategy and future utility of the wild Paeonia lactiflora populations recently found around the Gyeongju National Park, genetic diversity analysis using microsatellite markers were performed. Three populations in and near the Gyeongju N.P. and one population from Jilin, China were analyzed for five microsatellite markers, producing 61 alleles with mean observed heterozygosity($H_o$) of 0.452. $F_{ST}$ value (0.11642) suggested moderate level of genetic differentiation among the populations, and hierarchical AMOVA suggested most of the genetic variation resides within/among the individuals rather than among-population. While AMOVA with $F_{ST}$ suggested lack of genetic differentiation between the regional (Korean vs. Chinese) populations, AMOVA with $R_{ST}$, which incorporates the allele sizes, suggested considerable differentiation between them, but without significant statistical support. STRUCTURE analysis also suggested segregation of regional populations with presence of gene flow among the three Gyeongju N.P. populations. Considering small population size and scarcity of mature individuals, further protection and long-term monitoring are needed.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.279-290
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• 2012

Plecoglossus altivelis (ayu) is an amphidromous fish widely distributed in Northeastern Asia from the East China Sea to the northern Japanese coastal waters, encompassing the Korean Peninsula within its range. The shore lines of northeastern region in Asia have severely fluctuated following glaciations in the Quaternary. In the present study, we investigate the population genetic structure and historical demographic change of P. altivelis at a population level in East Asia. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on 244 mitochondrial control region DNA sequences clearly showed that as the sampling scope extended to a larger geographic area, genetic differentiation began to become significant, particularly among Northeastern populations. A series of hierarchical AMOVA could detect the genetic relationship of three closely located islands between Korea and Japan that might have been tightly connected by the regional Tsushima current. Neutrality and mismatch distribution analyses revealed a strong signature of a recent population expansion of P. altivelis in East Asia, estimated at 126 to 391 thousand years ago during the late Pleistocene. Therefore it suggests that the present population of P. altivelis traces back to its approximate demographic change long before the last glacial maximum. This contrasts our a priori expectation that the most recent glacial event might have the most crucial effect on the present day demography of marine organisms through bottleneck and subsequent increase of effective population size in this region.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.617-621
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• 2006

Recently the numbers of the Thai swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), a native species of Thailand, have been rapidly declining, leading to a requirement for conservation programs for this breed. Such studies of the genetic diversity of this species are essential for conservation decisions and to assist the rational implementation of breeding programs. In this study, the genetic diversity of 80 Thai swamp buffalo, randomly selected from seven different research stations of the Thai Department of Livestock Development, were studied using ten cattle microsatellite markers. Polymorphic PCR products were observed at all microsatellite loci, with percentages of polymorphic loci ranging from 80.00 to 100.00%. The population from Payao showed the lowest level of polymorphism. The mean number of alleles per locus was 4.7 with the highest number of alleles being eight (ETH152) and the lowest being three (HAUT27 and ILSTS030). The average unbiased heterozygosity for all seven populations was 0.61 and varied between 0.5314 (Samui) and 0.6798 (Surin). The genetic distance according to NEI's (1972) ranged from 0.0722 to 0.4427. The populations from Surin and Burirum are the closest populations, while populations from Samui and Payao are the most divergent. The information generated by this study will greatly aid in the establishment of effective breeding and conservation programs for the Thai swamp buffalo.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.503-509
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• 2006

To determine the minimum area for conservation of four Halophytic species populations, we evaluate the genetic diversity of four species based on the AFLP method using thirteen primer sets. Four species populations, Phragmites communis Trin, Suaeda japonica Makino, Zoysia sinica Hance, and S. maritima (L.) Dumort, from the southwestern coast of Korea, were selected for this study. The genetic diversity index ($\Psi_{ST}$) of Phragmites communis was 0.3856, Suaeda japonica 0.1445, Suaeda maritima 0.1669, and Zoysia sinica 0.2422. Based on the genetic diversity of population, we could determine the minimum area for conservation of each species as follows. P. communis needs $500{\times}500m^2$, S. japonica, S. maritima, and Z. sinica $100\times100m^2$ for keeping their genetic identity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2023

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), encoded by the polymorphic var multigene family, is a highly polymorphic antigen that plays a crucial role in the pathology of malaria. The contribution of the genetic diversity of var toward the immune escape of P. falciparum has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to characterize the diversity of var repertoires by screening P. falciparum Duffy-binding-like α domain (PfDBLα) among field isolates from central Myanmar. Genetic analysis revealed that the D-H segments of var in Myanmar populations have an extensive polymorphic repertoire, with high numbers of unique sequence types in each individual. However, var genes from the global population, including Myanmar, shared close genetic lineages regardless of their geographic origins, indicating that they have not undergone rapid evolutionary changes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.614-617
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• 2010

We sequenced a 522 bp fragment including the $tRNA^{Thr}$, $tRNA^{Pro}$ gene and the first half of the control region from 29 wild and cultured olive flounder specimens from Korea. Out of 522 nucleotide sites, 49 (9.4%) were variable, 23 haplotypes being found. Most haplotypes are unique in the wild population and only four were shared by cultured specimins. The nucleotide diversity and differences between wild and cultured populations were $0.025{\pm}0.013$ and $0.015{\pm}0.008$, and $12.94{\pm}6.00$ and $7.83{\pm}3.75$, respectively. Haplotype diversity was $0.98{\pm}0.02$ and $0.49{\pm}0.09$ in the wild and cultured populations, respectively. These results show that marked reductions of genetic variability in the hatchery strains were observed in the number of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes and haplotype diversity when compared to the wild populations. Furthermore, we detected significant population differentiation between both populations. The mtDNA sequencing technique used to evaluate the genetic variability of hatchery strains compared to that of the wild population is potential for genetic monitoring of olive flounder hatchery stocks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1368-1372
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• 2014

Several studies arduously reported that gayal (Bos frontalis) is an independent bovine species. The population size is shrinking across its distribution. In Bangladesh, it is the only wild relative of domestic cattle and also a less cared animal. Their body size is much bigger than Bangladeshi native cattle and has prominent beef type characters along with the ability to adjust in any adverse environmental conditions. Human interactions and manipulation of biodiversity is affecting the habitats of gayals in recent decades. Besides, the only artificial reproduction center for gayals, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), has few animals and could not carry out its long term conservation scheme due to a lack of an objective based scientific mission as well as financial support. This indicates that the current population is much more susceptible to stochastic events which might be natural catastrophes, environmental changes or mutations. Further reduction of the population size will sharply reduce genetic diversity. In our recent investigation with 80K indicine single nucleotide polymorphism chip, the $F_{IS}$ (within-population inbreeding) value was reported as $0.061{\pm}0.229$ and the observed ($0.153{\pm}0.139$) and expected ($0.148{\pm}0.143$) heterozygosities indicated a highly inbred and less diverse gayal population in Bangladesh. Prompt action is needed to tape the genetic information of this semi-domesticated bovine species with considerable sample size and try to investigate its potentials together with native zebu cattle for understanding the large phenotypic variations, improvement and conservation of this valuable creature.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.310-319
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• 2013

The genetic diversity and structure of eight populations of Coreanomecon hylomeconoides Nakai, an endemic Korean plant, were investigated using 50 ISSR loci from eight primers. The average percentage of polymorphic loci was 47.3%. The Shannon's index (SI=0.218) and gene diversity (h=0.142) were relatively lower than those of other long-lived perennials. The Sancheong (SI=0.233, h=0153), Gwangyang (SI=0.263, h=0.171), and Suncheon (SI=0.241, h=0.159) populations showed greater genetic diversity than the Namhae and Gwangju populations, which are on the edge of the distribution. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 18% of the total variation could be attributed to differences among populations, and 82% to differences within populations, indicating moderate gene flow among adjacent populations. These results were supported by value of Nm (2.184). The UPGMA conducted using the genetic distance and Bayesian cluster analysis showed a remarkable geographic trend structured into east and west regions. Overall, the results indicate that the Sancheong and Gwangyang populations, which had a large population size and higher degree of genetic diversity, should be the focus of in situ conservation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.983-990
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• 2010

Genus Spiraea is a woody species primarily distributed throughout Asia. Many species of this genus are important plants medicinally and ecologically. I evaluated a representative sample of the sixteen taxa with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to estimate genetic relationships within genus Spiraea. In addition, RAPD analysis was also conducted to estimate the genetic diversity and population structure of these species. As the typical populations of Spiraea were small, isolated, and patchily distributed for natural populations, they maintained a low level of genetic diversity for polymorphic primers. The mean H was 0.117 across species. The Korean endemic species (S. chartacea) and patchily distributed species (S. betulifolia) showed fewer alleles per locus (mean 1.240 vs. 1.297), lower percent polymorphic locus (24.0 vs. 29.7), and lower diversity (0.092 vs. 0.121) than a relatively widely spread species. An assessment of the proportion of diversity present within species, $H_{POP}/H_{SP}$, indicated that about 87.8% the total genetic diversity was among species. Thus, the majority of genetic variation (87.8%) resided within species. The phylogenic tree showed three distinct groups. One clade includes S. prunifolia for. simpliciflora, S. thunbergii, S. chamaedryfolia var. ulmifolia, S. media, and S. cantoniensis. Another clade includes S. blumei, S. pubescens, S. chartacea, and S. chinensis. The other clade is the remaining seven species.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.595-600
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• 2022

Water dropworts, Oenanthe javanica and O. javanica var. japonica are called "minari" in Korea and are eaten as a vegetable. Cicuta virosa is common European water hemlock and has toxic properties, such as cicutoxin. Molecular variations of water dropwort species in Korea were investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The six populations were studied with 10 primers (Operon, OPB) for RAPD analysis. The 72 DNA fragments (bands) were found among six populations. Among these 72 bands, 61 (84.7%) bands were polymorphic. The typical populations of Cicuta virosa in Korea were small, isolated, and patchily distributed for natural populations and they maintained a high level of genetic diversity. However, when cultivated populations of O. javanica var. japonica were large and widely grown in rice paddies as vegetables, they maintained a lower genetic diversity than those of C. virosa and wild populations of O. javanica. Although the diversity indices of wild populations were shown to be higher than those of cultivated populations, no significant difference for measures of genetic variability was shown. Total genetic diversity value (H_T) was 0.342. The interlocus variation in the within-population genetic diversity (H_S) was 0.201. The proportion of total genetic variation due to differences among populations (G_ST) range was 0.414, indicating that 41.4% of the total variation was among populations. In conclusion, the RAPD technique was a useful method for discrimination between C. virosa and O. javanica. In addition, RAPD-OPB markers could further distinguish the strains from different food sources.