• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.673-680
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to identify the polymorphism on fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) gene promoter region and its association with carcass traits in Hanwoo. We performed PCR-direct sequencing of FABP4 promoter region to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) using unrelated 24 Hanwoo bulls. Four SNPs (-298A>G, -472A>G, -887A>G, -862A>G) were detected in the promoter region and genotyped on 583 Hanwoo steers. A linear mixed model revealed an association of three SNPs (-298A>G, -472A>G and -862A>G) with carcass weight and marbling score in dominance model (P<0.05). The animals with AA genotypes for the three SNPs were heavier carcass weight (5 kg) than animals with GG genotypes in the statistical analysis. For the marbling score, the AA genotype was lower effect of marbling score (0.21) than GG genotypes. In conclusion, this study indicates an important role for three SNPs detected in promoter region of FABP4 in determining carcass weight and marbling score in Hanwoo.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.159-170
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• 1993

We investigated the effects of maternal and paternal parentage, and ovule position in a pod on seed development, weight, and progeny performance, using an annual crop commonly called cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. Nine maternal parents were randomly selected, and 3 individuals were chosen as paternal parents based on the male fitness components. Five types of hand-pollination were attempted on each flower of the maternal plants to evaluate the influence of paternal identify. Independent variables such as parentage and ovule position affected the pattern of seed development. Ovules in the middle position of the pod exhibited a much higher probability of seed maturation than those at the stylar and basal positions, confirming the position effect. These independent variables also appeared to exert a significant effect on seed weight, although it was not possible to evaluate the relative importance of those variables due to a significant interaction between parents. Mixed pollination tended to yield heavier seeds than other paternal parents. Ovules in the middle and basal end positions produced heavier seeds than those at the stylar end regardless of maternal and paternal parentage. Seed weight was independent of all measurements of progeny performance. At week 2 after germination significant paternal effects were found to be mediated through the ovule position in a pod. In particular, the progeny derived from self-pollination performed worse than the progeny from other paternal parentage. The progeny performance at week 4 after germination was affected by maternal parents independently of seed weight. These results show that paternal and maternal effects were quite consistent from the seed development to early growth of the progeny. Consequently, maternal and paternal effects on seed development and weight, and progeny performance may reflect, at least to some extent, genetic contribution of both parents. If so, it is possible for sexual selection on maternal and paternal function to generate the evolution of reproductive traits related to seed production.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2017

Background: Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a well-known medicinal plant of Oriental medicine that is still in practice today. Until now, a total of 11 Korean ginseng cultivars with unique features to Korean ginseng have been developed based on the pure-line-selection method. Among them, a new cultivar namely G-1 with different agricultural traits related to yield and content of ginsenosides, was developed in 2012. Methods: The aim of this study was to distinguish the new ginseng cultivar G-1 by identifying the unique single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at its 45S ribosomal DNA and Panax quinquefolius region than other Korean ginseng cultivars using multiplex amplification-refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). Results: A SNP at position of 45S ribosomal DNA region between G-1, P. quinquefolius, and the other Korean ginseng cultivars was identified. By designing modified allele-specific primers based on this site, we could specifically identified G-1 and P. quinquefolius via multiplex PCR. The unique primer for the SNP yielded an amplicon of size 449 bp in G-1 cultivar and P. quinquefolius. This study presents an effective method for the genetic identification of the G-1 cultivar and P. quinquefolius. Conclusion: The results from our study shows that this SNP-based approach to identify the G-1 cultivar will be a good way to distinguish accurately the G-1 cultivar and P. quinquefolius from other Korean ginseng cultivars using a SNP at 45S ribosomal DNA region.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.247-260
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• 2014

The impact of folate on health and disease, particularly pregnancy complications and congenital malformations, has been extensively studied. Mandatory folic acid fortification therefore has been implemented in multiple countries, resulting in a reduction in the occurrence of neural tube defects. However, emerging evidence suggests increased folate intake may also be associated with unexpected adverse effects. This literature review focuses on contemporary issues of concern, and possible underlying mechanisms as well as giving consideration the future direction of mandatory folic acid fortification. Folate fortification has been associated with the presence of unmetabolized folic acid (PteGlu) in blood, masking of vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency, increased dosage for anti-cancer medication, photo-catalysis of PteGlu leading to potential genotoxicity, and a role in the pathoaetiology of colorectal cancer. Increased folate intake has also been associated with twin birth and insulin resistance in offspring, and altered epigenetic mechanisms of inheritance. Although limited data exists to elucidate potential mechanisms underlying these issues, elevated blood folate level due to the excess use of PteGlu without consideration of an individual's specific phenotypic traits (e.g. genetic background and undiagnosed disease) may be relevant. Additionally, the accumulation of unmetabolized PteGlu may lead to inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase and other enzymes. Concerns notwithstanding, folic acid fortification has achieved enormous advances in public health. It therefore seems prudent to target and carefully monitor high risk groups, and to conduct well focused further research to better understand and to minimize any risk of mandatory folic acid fortification.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1385-1395
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• 2014

Economic traits of livestock are affected by environmental factors and genetic factors. In addition, it is not affected by one gene, but is affected by interaction of genes. We used a linear regression model in order to adjust environmental factors. And, in order to identify gene-gene interaction effect, we applied data mining techniques such as neural network, logistic regression, CART and C5.0 using five-SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism) of FASN (fatty acid synthase). We divided total data into training (60%) and testing (40%) data, and applied the model which was designed by training data to testing data. By the comparison of prediction accuracy, C5.0 was identified as the best model. It were selected superior genotype using the decision tree.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.145-159
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• 2005

Students' alternative concepts of evolution are similar to misconcepts and disputes which scientists had in science history. The aims of this study are to analyze the elementary children's concept in evolution based on science history. Lee (2004)'s two tests were applied to 6th grade to investigate the children's evolution concepts and genetic concepts related to the historical development of the evolution concepts. The test results were analyzed in accordance with 4 stages of science history based on Lee (2004)'s method. These stages are divided to stage 1 (Before Lamarck), stage 2 (Lamarck), stage 3 (Darwin), stage 4 (After Darwin). The major results are as follows. Most of elementary school children are fixed to the stage 2. They usually do not show the consistency of evolution concepts in the three dimensional aspects such as mechanism, time, and subjects. Many children do not have concrete meaning of gene, inheritance, sexual reproduction, mutation and could not connect these concetps and process of evolution. Also, they believe the inheritance of acquired traits and spontaneous generation. Therefore it is confirmed that they still have similar misconcepts and disputes which scientists had in transition time between stage 2 and 3 and most of children already have strong Lamarckian thought acquired from daily life experience before learning about natural selection and evolution.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.103-107
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• 2010

The imputation of untyped SNPs enables researchers to validate association findings across SNP arrays and also enables them to test a large number of SNPs to reveal the fine structure of the association peak, facilitating interpretation of the results and the location of causal polymorphisms. In this study, we applied the imputation method to a genomewide association study and recapitulated the previously associated gene loci of blood pressure traits in Korean cohorts. A total of 1,827,004 SNPs were imputed by the IMPUTE program, and we conducted a genomewide association study for systolic and diastolic blood pressure. While no SNPs passed the Bonferroni correction p-value (p=$2.74{\times}10^{-8}$ for 1,827,004 SNPs), 12 novel loci for systolic blood pressure and 16 novel loci for diastolic blood pressure were detected by imputed SNPs, with $10^{-5}$ < p-value < $10^{-4}$. Moreover, 7 regions (ATP2B1, 10p15.1, ARHGEF12, ALX4, LIPC, 7q31.1, and TCF7L2) out of 14 genetic loci that were previously reported revealed that the imputed SNPs had lower p-values than those of genotyped SNPs. Moreover, a nonsynonymous SNP in the CSMD1 gene, one of the 14 genes, was found to be associated with systolic blood pressure (p<0.05). These results suggest that the imputation method can facilitate the discovery of novel SNPs as well as enhance the fine structure of the association peak in the loci.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2014

Despite that porcine spermatogonial stem cells (pSSCs) have been regarded as a practical tool for preserving eternally genetic backgrounds derived from pigs with high performance in the economic traits or phenotypes of specific human diseases, there were no reports about precise definition of niche conditions promoting proliferation and maintenance of pSSCs. Accordingly, we tried to determine niche conditions supporting proliferation and maintenance of undifferentiated pSSCs for short-term. For these, undifferentiated pSSCs were progressively cultured in different composition of culture medium, seeding density of pSSCs, type of feeder cells and concentration of growth factors, and then total number of and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity of pSSCs were investigated at post-6 day culture. As the results, the culture of $4{\times}10^5$ pSSCs on mitotically in activated $2{\times}10^5$ STO cells in the mouse embryonic stem cell culture medium (mESCCM) supplemented with 30 ng/ml glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was identified as the best niche condition supporting effectively the short-term maintenance of undifferentiated pSSCs. Moreover, the optimized short-term culture system will be a basis for developing long-term culture system of pSSCs in the following researches.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.432-440
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• 2019

Global climate change exerts adverse effects on maize production. Among abiotic stresses, drought stress during the tasseling stage (VT) can increase anthesis-silking intervals (ASI) and decrease yield. We performed an evaluation of ASI and yield using a drought-sensitive line (Ki3) and a drought-tolerant line (Ki11) to analyze the correlation with ASI and yield. Moreover, the de novo data of Ki11 were analyzed to find putative novel transcripts related todrought stress in tropical maize. A total of 182 transcripts, with a log2 ratio >1.5, were found by comparing drought conditions to a control. The top 40 transcripts of high expression levels in the de novo analysis were selected and analyzed with PCR. Of the 40 transcripts, six novel transcripts were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) using seedling and VT stage samples. Five transcripts (transcripts_1, 12, 34, 35, and 40) were up-regulated in the Ki11 shoot at seedling stage, and transcripts_1, 12, and 40 were up-regulated at the re-watering stage after 12 h of drought stress. The transcripts_32 and 34 were up-regulated at the VT stage. Hence, transcript_34 possibly plays a significant role in drought tolerance during the seedling and VT stages. The transcript_32 was identified as chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) by Pfam domain analysis. The function of the other transcripts remained unknown. Further characterization of these novel transcripts in genetic regulation will be of great value for the improvement of maize production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1349-1360
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• 2015

The rhizospheric zone abutting plant roots usually clutches a wealth of microbes. In the recent past, enormous genetic resources have been excavated with potential applications in host plant interaction and ancillary aspects. Two Pseudomonas strains were isolated and identified through 16S rRNA and rpoD sequence analyses as P. fluorescens QAU67 and P. putida QAU90. Initial biochemical characterization and their root-colonizing traits indicated their potential role in plant growth promotion. Such aerobic systems, involved in gluconic acid production and phosphate solubilization, essentially require the pyrroloquinoline quinine (PQQ)-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) in the genome. The PCR screening and amplification of GDH and PQQ and subsequent induction of mutagenesis characterized their possible role as antioxidants as well as in growth promotion, as probed in vitro in lettuce and in vivo in rice, bean, and tomato plants. The results showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in parameters of plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight, etc., deciphering a clear and in fact complementary role of GDH and PQQ in plant growth promotion. Our study not only provides direct evidence of the in vivo role of GDH and PQQ in host plants but also reveals their functional inadequacy in the event of mutation at either of these loci.