• ALGAE
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2002

The transition of plant life from aquatic algae to land to land plants was one of the major events in the history of life. However, in hypothesizing the exact evolutionary path of the transition, limited shared phenotypic characters in aquatic algae and land plants (embryophytes) have been a major hinderance. Chloroplast genomes contain characters useful in tracing evolutionary histories. Embryophyte chloroplast genomes are distinguished from algal cpDNAs by having over 20 group Ⅱ introns, some of which were gained during the transition from algae to embryophytes (Manhart and Palmer 1990; Lew and Manhart 1993;Lee and Manhart 2002). Here we examine a gene cluster that, in land plants, contains psbB, psbT, psbH, petB and petD with introns found in petB and petD (petB.i and petD.i). In addition the presence/absence of introns in trnA and trnI (trnA.i and trnI.i) were determined in all five major lineages of charophytes. We found that the psbB gene cluster occurs in most surveyed charophytes and embryophytes except Spirogyra (Zygnematales) which lacks it due to intra-genomic rearrangement. All four introns are absent in Chlorokybus but present in some or all of the other four charophyte lineages (Klebsormidiales, Zygnematales, Coleochaetales, and Charales). In addition, Chlorokybus is distinguished from other charophytes and embryophytes by having an unusually long spacer (over 2 kb) between psbH-petB. The results indicate that Chlorokybus diverged before the intron gains but after psbB gene cluster formation, placing the other charophyte lineages closer to embryophytes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2009

The CHRM3 gene is a member of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor family that plays important roles in the regulation of fundamental physiological functions. The evolutionary mechanism of exon-acquisition and alternative splicing of the CHRM3 gene in relation to transposable elements (TEs) were analyzed using experimental approaches and in silico analysis. Five different transcript variants (T1, T2, T3, T3-1, and T4) derived from three distinct promoter regions (T1: L1HS, T2, T4: original, T3, T3-1: THE1C) were identified. A placenta (T1) and testis (T3 and T3-1)-dominated expression pattern appeared to be controlled by different TEs (L1HS and THE1C) that were integrated into the common ancestor genome during primate evolution. Remarkably, the T1 transcript was formed by the integration event of the human specific L1HS element. Among the 12 different brain regions, the brain stem, olfactory region, and cerebellum showed decreased expression patterns. Evolutionary analysis of splicing sites and alternative splicing suggested that the exon-acquisition event was determined by a selection and conservation mechanism. Furthermore, continuous integration events of transposable elements could produce lineage specific alternative transcripts by providing novel promoters and splicing sites. Taken together, exon-acquisition and alternative splicing events of CHRM3 genes were shown to have occurred through the continuous integration of transposable elements following conservation.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.99-114
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• 2013

Phylogeographic and feeding ecological studies of seven terrestrial mustelid species (Carnivora, Mustelidae), the Japanese marten Martes melampus, the sable Martes zibellina, the Japanese badger Meles anakuma, the ermine or the stoat Mustela erminea, the Japanese weasel Mustela itatsi, the least weasel Mustela nivalis, and the Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica, representing four biogeographic patterns in the Japanese archipelagos (Hokkaido, Honshu-Shikoku-Kyushu, Tsushima, and Hokkaido-Honshu), were reviewed in order to clarify causes for the faunal assemblage processes of those mustelid species in Japan. Here, three main constraints were extracted as important factors on the mustelid assemblage. First, fundamental evolutionary differences maintained by niche conservatism in each ecologically diversified lineage ("evolutionary constraint") would enable the species to co-occur without any major problem (coexistence among Martes, Meles, and Mustela species). Second, "ecological constraints" would force two closely related species to be allopatric by competitive exclusion (Mu. itatsi and Mu. sibirica) or to be sympatric by resource partitions (Mu. erminea and Mu. nivalis). Third and most importantly, "geological constraints" would allow specific species to be embraced by a particular geographic region, primarily deciding which species co-occurs. The allopatric distribution of two Martes species in Japan would have been established by the strong effect of the geological separation in Tsugaru Strait. Elucidating both phylogeny and ecology of co-existing species in a community assemblage is important to know which species possess distinct lineage and which ecological traits are adapted to local environments, fulfilling the requirement of the field of conservation biology that endemism and adaptation should both be considered. The Japanese archipelagos would, therefore, provide valuable insight into the conservation for small carnivoran species.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2002

Compare to investigate the taxonomic utility of infragenera system and interspecific of Asian Geranium, we examined the fruit and seed morphology from 35 taxa. The fruit shape and seed's dispersal way did so that may divide subgenus or some part section to do could reason evolutionary trends. That is, at seed dispersal, the awns of section Geranium of subgenus Geranium, ramains attached at the top of rostrum, though fairy easily broken off, because seed increases awn's elasticity by diffusive way, it is long characteristic seed\`s dispersal distance, and subgenus Robertium observed that seed dispersal distance is short because it is no awn's elasticity by way that seed dispersal is gone as awn drops with rostrum. Also, section Geranium of subgenus Geranium and subgenus Robertium act role that awn keeps temporarily breed swerving with mericarp instead of bristle because section Tuberosa of subgenus Geranium is not bristled function that keep temporarily breed because mericarp bristled on base at seed dispersal do while. Therefore, is thought that is talon that when consider formation's development and function regarding this seed dispersal function, subgenus Geraniuum evolves more than subgenus Robertium. Seed morphology can divide by 2 subgenera(Geranium, Robertium) according to pattern of seed coat. and Seed's morphology characteristic(whole shape, color, form of seed apical and base, micropyle area, hilum area, chalaza, and position of seed hilum area), can distinguish some species, but is thought that is not reasonable as for discernment characteristic form and nature by repetition of characteristic form and nature. Especially, infrasection do in fruit and seed's morphology that is handling in this research that know to argue classification system and relationship by repetition of characteristic form and nature difficult. To all reliable truth, cytological, ecological, embryology, and molecular genetics research about talon is considered that should be achieved section Geranium that do not handle yet.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.191-191
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• 2022

Heterostyly continues to fascinate evolutionary biologists interested in heredity, evolution, breeding, and adaptive function. Polymorphism demonstrates how simply inherited developmental changes in the location of plant sexual associations can have important consequences for population pollination and mating biology. In contrast to homozygous self incompatibility, only a small number of mating phenotypes can be maintained in the population because insect pollinators have limitations in achieving multiple segregation sites for pollen deposition. Field studies of pollen tube growth have shown that reciprocal style-stamen polymorphisms function to increase the capacity of insect-mediated cross-pollination. The genetic pattern of style morphs is well established in various taxa, but despite recent advances, the identity, number, and structure of the genes controlling the heteromorphic syndrome have been poorly elucidated. The phenomenon of heterostyly in buckwheat has been controlled by gene complex concentrate to S-locus. Homomorphic autogamous buckwheat strains were established by the interspecific hybridization. Backcrossing of this line to the common buckwheat (pin) and selecting homostylar progenies made it possible to introduce the self-compatible gene into common buckwheat. In the result, we obtained the BC₉F₂ generation, and defined the strong linkage between flower type and self-incompatibility by microscopic observation of pollen tube growth. This finding suggests that self-incompatibility character is not controlled by one gene. Moreover, we defined the strong linkage between flower type and self-incompatibility. It strongly supports the S supergene theory. Therefore, we have plan to elucidate the heterostyly self-incompatibility by using molecular genetics, proteome analysis and apply to exploitation of buckwheat improvement. In near future, the expression of heterozygous syndromes in genus Fagopyrum with single isolated heterozygous species may provide clues to early stages of polymorphic assembly and shed light on evolutionary models of heterozygous strains.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2011

The seven leptocephali (14.6~68.0 mm in total length) of the family Ophichthidae, from the East Sea of Korea, were identified using 12S rRNA 861-bp sequences and their morphological development were described. Our seven leptocephali were identified to Echelus uropterus based on genetic distance (d=0.000) being well consistent with that of adult E. uropterus. Our seven leptocephali of E. uropterus are characterized by morphological combinations: caudal fin present; the melanophores present in series of nine gut swellings; total myomeres 154~158; body depth in total length less than 10%; eight black horizontal bands present from anus to caudal fin base. Our morphological and molecular results suggest that E. uropterus may be an intermediate group between subfamily Ophichthinae and Myrophinae.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.332-340
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• 2019

Background: Studies of morphological variation within and among populations provide an opportunity to understand local adaptation and potential patterns of gene flow. To study the evolutionary divergence patterns of Schlegel's Japanese gecko (Gekko japonicus) across its distribution, we analyzed data for 15 morphological characters of 324 individuals across 11 populations (2 in China, 4 in Japan, and 5 in Korea). Results: Among-population morphological variation was smaller than within-population variation, which was primarily explained by variation in axilla-groin length, number of infralabials, number of scansors on toe IV, and head-related variables such as head height and width. The population discrimination power was 32.4% and in cluster analysis, populations from the three countries tended to intermix in two major groups. Conclusion: Our results indicate that morphological differentiation among the studied populations is scarce, suggesting short history for some populations after their establishment, frequent migration of individuals among the populations, and/or local morphological differentiation in similar urban habitats. Nevertheless, we detected interesting phenetic patterns that may predict consistent linkage of particular populations that are independent of national borders. Additional sampling across the range and inclusion of genetic data could give further clue for the historical relationship among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean populations of G. japonicus.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.153-164
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• 1979

A total of 352 specimens of congeneric species of Agkistrodon was collected and morphometric analysis and starch-gel electrophoresis were carried out in order to investigate the taxonomic status of this genus. The results obtained in this study are as follows: Morphometric analysis 1. Three species are recognized based on Gloyd's criteria. There was no specimen that was doubtful to classify correctly. Therefore, it seems that Gloyd's morphological characters are good criteria to identify each species. 2. All three species are sympatric at two localities (Mt. Seolag, Gangwon-do, and Mt. Deogyu, Jeonra-bugdo) and A. caligino년 and A. b. brevicaudus are sympatric at Gwangneung and Mt. Yongmun, Gyonggi-do. No hybrids were found in these sympatric localities. 3. Notable sexual dimorphism was found in meristic characters. 4. A. saxatilis has signicantly more number of ventrals and shorter tail ratio than other two species. 5. There were no significant meristic character differences between A. caligino년 and A. b. brevicaudus. Genetic analysis 1. Among 26 loci investigated, 12 loci (46.1%) were identical in their mobility, 4 loci (15.4%) were nearly identical with minor frequency differences, and 10 loci (38.5%) showed interspecific mobility difference. 2. The average proportion of polymorphic loci was 9.03%. This is considerably less than that of other vertebrates. 3. The average S and D values between species are .695 and .342 respectively. These values indicate that three taxa are distinct species. 4. A. caliginosus is genetically more related to A. saxatilis than to Agkistrodon, namely A. b. brevicaudus, A. caligino년 and A. saxatilis, as proposed by Gloyd. Far from being mere morphological variants, as suggested by Kang and Yoon (1975), they are highly distinctive evolutionary units.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.278-288
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• 2018

Polyploidization plays an important role in generating the current high diversity of plants. Studies of the distributional patterns of diploid and derivative polyploid races have provided important insights into the evolutionary process and cryptic speciation by polyploidization within and between closely related taxa defined on the basis of their morphology. Allium thunbergii and A. sacculiferum, occurring throughout eastern Russia, eastern China, Korea, and Japan, are examples of closely related species with unsolved taxonomic relationships. A total of 97 and 65 individuals from 26 and 13 populations of A. thunbergii (including var. thunbergii, var. deltoids, and var. teretifolium) and A. sacculiferum, respectively, were studied to determine their ploidy. The geographic structure and habitat differentiation of the cytotypes were also analyzed. The main cytotype of A. thunbergii was diploid (92.3% in total; the rest were tetraploids). In contrast, the majority of A. sacculiferum plants were tetraploids (69.2% of the total; the rest were diploids). No populations of the studied taxa harbored both cytotypes. Allium thunbergii was more often found at higher elevations than A. sacculiferum, and it tended to occur more frequently on rocky slopes and below forests in mountainous areas. On the other hand, A. sacculiferum occurred at forest margins and in lowland pastures. The cytotypes differed with respect to the elevation; diploids were found more frequently at higher elevations than tetraploids. The results of this study and additional biosystematics data indicate that the morphological characteristics of A. thunbergii and A. sacculiferum may be influenced by polyploidization and by their adaptation to various habitat conditions and that A. thunbergii and A. sacculiferum do not clearly fulfill the requirements of any species concept. Consequently, we propose that A. sacculiferum be considered as an additional synonym of A. thunbergii. Additionally, Allium thunbergii var. deltoides is unified into A. thunbergii var. thunbergii.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.306-314
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• 2018

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) has long been cultivated as an important economic medicinal plant. Owing to the seasonal and long-term agricultural cultivation methods of Korean ginseng, they are always vulnerable to various environmental stress conditions. ABSCISIC ACID (ABA) is an essential plant hormone associated with seed development and diverse abiotic stress responses including drought, cold and salinity stress. By modulating ABA responses, plants can regulate their immune responses and growth patterns to increase their ability to tolerate stress. With recent advances in genome sequencing technology, we first reported the functional features of genes related to canonical ABA signaling pathway in P. ginseng genome. Based on the protein sequences and functional genomic analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana, the ABA related genes were successfully identified. Our functional genomic characterizations clearly showed that the ABA signaling related genes consisting the ABA receptor proteins (PgPYLs), kinase family (PgSnRKs) and transcription factors (PgABFs, PgABI3s and PgABI5s) were evolutionary conserved in the P. ginseng genome. We confirmed that overexpressing ABA related genes of P. ginseng completely restored the ABA responses and stress tolerance in ABA defective Arabidopsis mutants. Finally, tissue and age specific spatio-temporal expression patterns of the identified ABA-related genes in P. ginseng tissues were also classified using various available RNA sequencing data. This study provides ABA signal transduction related genes and their functional genomic information related to the growth and development of Korean ginseng. Additionally, the results of this study could be useful in the breeding or artificial selection of ginseng which is resistant to various stresses.