• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.170-189
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• 2021

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a genetic material derived from organisms in various environments (water, soil, and air). eDNA has many advantages, such as high sensitivity, short investigation time, investigation safety, and accurate species identification. For this reason, it is used in various fields, such as biological monitoring and searching for harmful and endangered organisms. To collect eDNA from a freshwater ecosystem, it is necessary to consider the target organism and gene and a wide variety of items, such as on-site filtration and eDNA preservation methods. In particular, the method of collecting eDNA from the environment is directly related to the eDNA concentration, and when collecting eDNA using an appropriate collection method, accurate (good quality) analysis results can be obtained. In addition, in preserving and extracting eDNA collected from the freshwater ecosystem, when an accurate method is used, the concentration of eDNA distributed in the field can be accurately analyzed. Therefore, for researchers at the initial stage of eDNA research, the eDNA technology poses a difficult barrier to overcome. Thus, basic knowledge of eDNA surveys is necessary. In this study, we introduced sampling of eDNA and transport of sampled eDNA in aquatic ecosystems and extraction methods for eDNA in the laboratory. In addition, we introduced simpler and more efficient eDNA collection tools. On this basis, we hope that the eDNA technique could be more widely used to study aquatic ecosystems and help researchers who are starting to use the eDNA technique.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.69-89
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• 2020

Scientific trust and quantification of traditional species investigation and results that have been used in ecology for decades has always been a problem and concern for ecologists. Global ecologists have proposed DNA-based species investigation studies to find answers to problems. In this study, we reviewed the global trend of research on environmental DNA(eDNA), which is a method for monitoring species by detecting DNA of organisms naturally mixed in environmental samples such as water, soil, and feces. The first eDNA research confirmed the possibility of species investigation at the molecular level, and commercialization of NGS(Next Generation Sequencing) and DNA metabarcoding elicits efficient and quantitative species investigation results, and eDNA research is increasing in the filed of ecology. In this study, mammals and birds were detected using MiMammal universal primers from 23 samples(3 natural reserves; 20 water bowls) out of 4 patches to verify eDNA for urban ecosystems in Suwon, and eDNA was verified by performing camera trapping and field survey. Most terrestrial species were detected through eDNA, and particularly, mice(Mus musculus), and Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora webbiana) were identified only with eDNA, It has been confirmed to be highly effective by investigating techniques for small and internal species. However, due to the lack of resolution of the primer, weasels(Mustela sibirica) and squirrels(Melanochromis auratus) were not detected, and it was confirmed that the traditional investigation method was effective only for a few species, such as Mogera robusta(Mogera robusta). Therefore, it is judged that the effects of species investigation can be maximized only when eDNA is combined with traditional field survey and Camera trapping to complement each other.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2023

eDNA, an abbreviation for environmental DNA, means DNA derived from organisms inhabiting in a specific environment. The utilization of eDNA extracted from environmental samples allows for efficient and accurate monitoring of organisms inhabiting the respective environment. Specifically, eDNA obtained from seawater samples can be used to analyze marine biodiversity. After collecting seawater samples and extracting eDNA, metagenome analysis enables the taxonomic and diversity analysis among marine organisms inhabiting the sampled area. This review proposed an overall process of marine biodiversity analysis by utilizing eDNA from seawater. Currently, the application of eDNA for analyzing marine biodiversity in domestic setting is not yet widespread. This review can contribute to establishment of marine eDNA research methods in Korea, providing valuable assistance in standardizing the use of eDNA in marine biodiversity studies.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2021

Recently, environmental DNA (eDNA)-based metabarcoding approaches have been proposed to evaluate the status of freshwater ecosystems owing to various advantages, including fast and easy sampling and minimal habitat disruption from sampling. Therefore, as a case study, we applied eDNA metabarcoding techniques to evaluate the effects of an abandoned mine land located near a headwater stream of Nakdonggang River, South Korea, by examining benthic macroinvertebrate diversity and compared the results with those obtained using the traditional Surber-net sampling method. The number of genera was higher in Surber-net sampling (29) than in the eDNA analysis (20). The genus richness tended to decrease from headwater to downstream in eDNA analysis, whereas richness tended to decrease at sites with acid-sulfated sediment areas using Surber-net sampling. Through cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling, the sampling sites were differentiated into two parts: acid-sulfated and other sites using Surber-net sampling, whereas they were grouped into the two lowest downstream and other sites using eDNA sampling. To evaluate freshwater ecosystems using eDNA analysis in practical applications, it is necessary to constantly upgrade the methodologies and compare the data with field survey methods.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2023

Environmental DNA (eDNA) can exist in both intracellular and extracellular forms in natural ecosystems. When targeting harmful cyanobacteria, extracellular eDNA indicates the presence of traces of cyanobacteria, while intracellular eDNA indicates the potential for cyanobacteria to occur. However, identifying the "actual" potential for harmful cyanobacteria to occur is difficult using the existing sediment eDNA analysis method, which uses silica beads and cannot distinguish between these two forms of eDNA. This study analyzes the applicability of a density gradient centrifugation method (Ludox method) that can selectively analyze intracellular eDNA in sediment to overcome the limitations of conventional sediment eDNA analysis. PCR was used to amplify the extracted eDNA based on the two different methods, and the relative amount of gene amplification was compared using electrophoresis and Image J application. While the conventional bead beating method uses sediment as it is to extract eDNA, it is unknown whether the mic gene amplified from eDNA exists in the cyanobacterial cell or only outside of the cell. However, since the Ludox method concentrates the intracellular eDNA of the sediment through filtration and density gradient, only the mic gene present in the cyanobacteria cells could be amplified. Furthermore, the bead beating method can analyze up to 1 g of sediment at a time, whereas the Ludox method can analyze 5 g to 30 g at a time. This gram of sediments makes it possible to search for even a small amount of mic gene that cannot be searched by conventional bead beating method. In this study, the Ludox method secured sufficient intracellular gene concentration and clearly distinguished intracellular and extracellular eDNA, enabling more accurate and detailed potential analysis. By using the Ludox method for environmental RNA expression and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of harmful cyanobacteria in the sediment, it will be possible to analyze the potential more realistically.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.264-275
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• 2022

A non-destructive environmental DNA protocol for the genetic analysis of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) resources DNA was established. Among the several commercial DNA extraction kits, the DNeasy^® Plant Mini Kit was selected as the best choice to obtain the high-quality genomic DNAs from the mucous sea cucumber. As the temperature and incubation time increased, the amount of extracted environmental DNA was also large, but it was judged that the increased amount did not affect as much as 2-3 times. Therefore, these conditions were not considered to be the main factors to consider in actual environmental DNA extraction. However, the amount of seawater relative to the size of the sample was judged as a major consideration, and a sufficient amount of environmental DNA for analysis was secured when stored within 1 min while stirring the volume of seawater corresponding to the total sea cucumber weight (g). In securing the environmental DNA of sea cucumbers, the mortality rate of sea cucumbers in all experiments was 0, and it was judged that the effects of sea cucumbers were not significant through this treatment. Through the results of this study, sea cucumber DNA research, which has been conducted in a destructive method, can be conducted non-destructively through environmental DNA analysis. Through this study, we have secured a standard protocol that can successfully extract the sea cucumber DNA through environmental DNA. It is not only excellent in terms of time and cost of traditional DNA analysis method currently used, but it is completely non-destructive in the ecosystem of the survey area. It is believed that the system can be transformed in a way that does not affect it. However, it is thought that various standard protocols should be established considering the characteristics of each type.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.29
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• pp.7.1-7.8
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• 2014

Objectives The present study was designed to systematically characterize the denaturation and the renaturation of double stranded DNA (dsDNA), which is suitable for DNA hybridization. Methods A series of physical and chemical denaturation methods were implemented on well-defined 86-bp dsDNA fragment. The degree of each denaturation was measured and the most suitable denaturation method was determined. DNA renaturation tendency was also investigated for the suggested denaturation method. Results Heating, beads mill, and sonication bath did not show any denaturation for 30 minutes. However probe sonication fully denatured DNA in 5 minutes. 1 mol/L sodium hydroxide (alkaline treatment) and 60% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment fully denatured DNA in 2-5 minutes. Conclusions Among all the physical methods applied, the direct probe sonication was the most effective way to denature the DNA fragments. Among chemical methods, 60% DMSO was the most adequate denaturation method since it does not cause full renaturation during DNA hybridization.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 1999

Fumonisin B1 is a secondary metabolite of Fusarium moniliforme, a contaminant of corn and corn product. Fumonisin B1 has been shown to be responsible for major toxicological effects of the fungus in rats, horses, and pigs. Fumonisin B1 induced λ DNA fragmentation, which was increased with incubation time, reducing agent NADPH and metal ion (Cu2+). The DNA damage was inhibited by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or mannitol as radical scavenger for free radicals. DNA fragmentation, induced by fumonisin B1 in the presence of 1 mM NADPH and 0.1 mM CuCl2, was inhibited by 100 mM DMSO. By the in vitro reaction of fumonisin B1 with supercoiled plasmid pBR322 DNA, plasmid DNA was relaxed, eventually linearized in the agarose gel electrphoresis. From rifampicin sensitive E. coli CSH138 in bacterial mutagenesis system, the rifampicin resistant E. coli mutants were obtained by fumonisin B1. These results suggest that fumonisin B1 may be a possible environmental mutagen in bacterial mutagen assay system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.125-138
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• 2019

This study aims to highlight the possibility in identifying species composition of fish communities using the environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding technique, from both of the technical introduction and the pilot test at urban ecological streams. This new emerging survey technique using eDNA is getting popular in the world as a compensating way for the conventional field survey. However, the application to the domestic cases has yet to be studied. We attempted to use this technique for identifying fish species observed at four survey points in Hwangguji-chon, Suwon City. As a result, the detected number of species by eDNA sampled once in May was significantly matched with the total number of observed species in annual field surveys. Additionally eDNA results indicated the presence possibility of the unobserved species in field last year, even though the validation may be required. This survey technique seems to be more efficient and applicable to diverse situations of the fields and species, thereby needs to be studied further. We discussed the pros and cons of the application and summarized the research directions in future.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2020

In this study, to discuss on the applicability of eDNA as a new method to investigate fish diversity at streams, we applied eDNA at 4 streams (Geum River, Ji Stream, Hwangji Stream, Seomjin River), where endangered species are inhabits, with conventional survey (cast net and kick net). The average (±standard deviation) number of species investigated by eDNA were 19 species (±4.4), and it was relatively higher than average of conventional survey, 10 species (±4.8). Most of case, in this study, eDNA was more efficient than conventional survey. However, there were errors on species identification of Korean endemic species and aliied species from eDNA, and it seems the universal primer (MiFish primer set) is not suitable for them. Furthermore, some of endangered species, caught by conventional method, was not detected by eDNA. As the present universal primer is not suitable for identify the every freshwater fish species in Korea, the complementing or development of universal primer is needed, and the eDNA application after species specific marker development for detecting specific species like endangered species should be considered. In conclusion, if the manual for field survey method by eDNA is developed, we expect applicability enlargement for water ecosystem survey.