• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.679-686
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to monitor genetically modified bean sprouts at traditional markets in Seoul and to investigate perception of traditional market merchants and high school students on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). We analyzed 30 bean sprouts that were selected at 11 traditional markets in Seoul using the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Also, we compared perception of GMOs between merchants (n = 30) and students (n = 126). Knowledge test about GMOs was performed by students. The result of PCR, 16.7% of bean sprouts were confirmed as GM bean sprouts (n = 5). Students had significantly more exposure to information about GMOs than merchants (p < 0.05). Major information sources about GMOs were from mass media (television, newspaper and radio). About half of subjects were not aware that they eat GMOs and GMOs are sold to consumers. Only 17.3% of subjects had constant eating intent for GMOs after perceiving foods that he/she usually eats are GMOs. 51.3% of subjects had willingness to purchase GMOs if GMOs have same quality and lower cost than natural foods. 37.2% of subjects thought that GMOs would be harmful to humans. Students had more positive perception of GMOs' side effects than merchants (p < 0.01). There was no merchant who knew labeling of GMOs. 19.1% of students knew labeling of GMOs. Students' mean percentage of correct answers of six questions about GMOs was 45.2%. Therefore, providing adequate information about GMOs is needed for consumer's choice whether to purchase GMOs or not.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2003

New breeding method by genetic engineering is expected as a key technology to solve food shortage due to the growing world population in the year 2000s. Many genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were already developed and the commercial cultivation had started. The first GMO, Flavr Savr tomato, which rotted at a much slower pace than ordinary ones, was developed in US in 1994. Since then, over than 70 different agricultural products including corn, cotton, soybean, papaya, potato, and squash made with genetically modified plants are reportedly on sale worldwide. Supporters favor the GMOs because they have greater yields, longer shelf lives and stronger resistance to disease and insects. On the other hand, opponents say that the supporters ignore a potential danger that they may damage the environment as well as human beings. To assure the safe development and use of GMOs as food and other biotech products, the possible risks on biological environment and human health should be throughly examined and regulated by developer and government. Because the biosafety problem is a global, environmental, and trade issue, a new international treaty is under development. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was adopted at the 1 st Extraordinary Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity which was held at Mont-real, Canada, Jan. 29th, 2000. The adoption of the Protocol is seen as a breakthrough in that it is based on the" Precautionary Principle" despite scientific uncertainties surrounding potential risks that GMOs may inflict on human health and the environment and that it has laid the ground for introduction of specific steps to handle international trading of GMOs. In this paper, the authors would like to introduce the current status and perspective of environmental and human risk assessment of GMOs.t of GMOs.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.823-832
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• 2009

In recent years, special concerns have been raised about the safety assessment of foods and food ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). A growing number of countries establish regulations and laws for GMOs in order to allow consumers an informed choice. In this case, a lot of methods have been developed for the detection of GMOs. However, the reproducibility among methods and laboratories is still a problem. Consequently, it is still in great demand for more effective methods. In comparison with the gel electrophoresis, the capillary electrophoresis (CE) technology has some unique advantages, such as high resolution efficiency and less time consumption. Therefore, some CE-based methods have been developed for the detection of GMOs in recent years. All kinds of CE detection methods, such as ultraviolet (UV), laser induced fluorescence (LIF), and chemiluminescence (CL) detection, have been used for GMOs detection. Microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE) methods have also been used for GMOs detection and they have shown some unique advantages.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.175-189
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• 2005

This study analyzed the degree of demand for genetically modified organisms(GMOs) to provide the basic information for consumers' reasonable purchase decision making and their right to know about GMOs. Based on the (Ed-there are no study results above) study results, the following suggestion were made. First, throughout the survey, it was found that those consumers who participated had a high level of perception on the harm of GMOs. Therefore, reliable organizations such as government agencies are required to present the results of safety tests and formulate plans related to the safety of GMOs. Second, the average score on consumers' level of consumer knowledge on GMOs was very low, being 1.68 out of a possible 8 points. Third, since women and housewives engaged in dietary habits and food had high demand for information on GMOs, it is necessary to provide women with information on GMOs. Fourth, since it is difficult to confirm the presence or absence of GMOs. in rapidly increasing demand for fast-food, it is necessary that consumers be provided with relevant information and make a reasonable judgement in purchasing food. Fifth, it is necessary to provide detailed regulations and measures for concrete contents and directions of information on GMOs. Sixth, it is necessary to provid information on GMOs from the commercial sources of information that are most preferred by consumers.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2001

We performed to evaluate the safety of GMOs for a long term exposure in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In this study, groups often or fifteen SD rats were fed one of the following four diets for 90 days: (1) AIN-76A rodent diet only; (2) AIN-76A rodent diet containing 5% genetically modified soybean from USA; (3) AIN-76A rodent diet containing 5% genetically non-modified soybean from USA; (4) AIN-76A rodent diet containing 5% genetically non-modified soybean from Korea. The effects of AIN-76A rodent diet containing genetically modified soybean on body weights, food uptake, water consumption, hematology, serum bio-chemistry, urinalysis, organ weights, gross findings and histopathological findings were not significantly different, compared with others. Taken together, these results suggested that genetically modified soybean did not induce any toxic effects in rats treated for 90 days.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.5 s.86
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• pp.431-443
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the perceptions of the opinion leaders, such as government officials, researchers, NGO workers, and journalists on the risks of endocrine disrupters (EDs) and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as well as the related policies on these two hazards or potential hazards. The opinion leaders generally considered the EDs as the most serious hazard among twenty-one environmental health hazards in Korea, and agreed that the EDs would continuously be the most serious hazard. On overall average, the GMOs were ranked the 11th among the twenty-one health hazards. Further investigation indicated that the GMOs were variously ranked by the group of respondents: they were ranked the 2nd by the NGO workers, the 7th by the journalists, the 9th by the researchers and the 11th by the government officials. In general, the respondents considered the dioxin as a hazard with the highest risk while the GMOs were considered less hazardous. The opinion leaders considered that although the risks of the GMOs and EDs were not fully verified, the risks should be controlled through the legislation. The EDs and GMOs should be separately regulated for the time being, while the EDs should put under more strengthened regulation. It is recommended that a web-site containing the information on the EDs and the GMOs be prepared for the journalists. In addition, a training program in relation to the EDs and the GMOs needs to be organized by the Korean Press Foundation and the Korea Food and Drug Administration to educate the journalists. A committee consisting of government officials, scientists, and NGO workers needs to be established, and it should provide framework of future policies and public relations programs.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.267.1-267.1
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• 2002

The potential allergenicity of the transgene products in genetically modified organisms (GMOs). has been an important issue. As a part of the risk assessment of GMOs. we investigated the physicochemical stability and the immunogenicity of food allergens to determine their allergenicity. We have systematically evaluated the stability of food allergens in the gastrointestinal tract by using simple models of gastric (Stimulated gastric fluid) and intestinal (Stimulated intestinal fluid) digestion. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.180-180
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• 2002

The potential allergenicity of the transgene products in genetically modified organisms (GMOs), has been an important issue. As a part of the risk assessment of GMOs, we investigated the physicochemical stability and the immunogenicity of food allergens to determine their allergenicity.(omitted)

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.86-87
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• 2005

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2021

To ensure the safety of developing or importing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Korea has enacted the "LMO Act." Accordingly, the safety of using GMOs as food or feed is evaluated in accordance with the concept of "substantial equivalence" proposed by OECD. The allergenicity of GMOs is assessed as a part of their safety evaluation. The methods of allergenicity assessment have been discussed by various international organizations, such as the OECD, FAO, and WHO. The main methods used for the allergenicity assessment of proteins newly expressed in GMOs include assessment of the physicochemical stability of these proteins, evaluation of their amino acid homology with existing allergenic proteins, and serum screening. In this study, we describe guidelines and related studies for the allergenicity assessment of GM crops.