• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 2014

The multiplex PCR system including six microsatellites from Haliotis discus hannai, consisting of dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeat units, is developed. The six loci were coamplified in a single reaction employing dye-labeled primers. Alleles from these loci were sized using an internal standard by automated sample processing in an ABI3100 Genetic Analyser. Amplified alleles in profiles containing selected microsatellites were typed clearly, providing easily interpretable results. In this results suggest that the presented multiplex PCR system may be a useful tool in a selective breeding program of H. discus hannai in which genetic identification will allow different genotypes to be reared together from fertilization. This should have a great impact as it will make selective breeding more efficient. Moreover, it will be useful in a variety of applications, including strain and hybrid identification, parentage assignment, pedigree reconstruction, estimating genetic diversity and/or inbreeding.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.415-419
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• 2014

Inbreeding depression may be an avoidable phenomenon for abalone culture. However, only a few studies were carried out on inbreeding depression. In the present study, to demonstrate inbreeding depression in growth trait of Pacific abalone, H. discus hannai, inbreeding and outbreeding families were produced in 2010. Inbred and outbred families from each experiment were reared in same tank until 10 month for the same breed environment. The individual of inbred and outbred were distinguished by paternity test using microsatellite DNA. The shell length between inbred and outbred families was compared. At the results, significantly higher shell length was observed in the outbred families at 10 mon (P < 0.05). These results indicate that inbreeding depression is obviously observed in growth traits in the first generation of full-sib family of the H. discus hannai.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.437-441
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• 2014

One specimen of Argonauta argo belonging to the family Argonautidae, was collected Songjeong, southeastern coastal water of Korea on July 12, 2010. The specimen, a mature female of 76 mm mantle length and 97 mm shell length. The number of ribs are 56 in shell. The shell is distinct between the arm I's. The I arm has expanded, hemi-discoidal web to which the distal part is fused together. The funnel is large and exceeds the base of arm IV. The arms formula is IV > $II{\fallingdotseq}III$ > I. The specimen was female. Fecundity was 155,203 eggs. This species is pelagic octopus and important prey item of dolphin.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.257-262
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• 2015

The seven selected primers BION-13, BION-29, BION-61, BION-64, BION-68, BION-72 and BION-80 generated the total number of loci, average number of loci per lane and specific loci in Meretrix lusoria (ML), Saxidomus purpuratus (SP) and Cyclina sinensis (CS) species. Here, the complexity of the banding patterns varied dramatically between the primers from the three venerid clam species. The higher fragment sizes (> 1,000 bp) are much more observed in the SP species. The primer BION-68 generated 21 unique loci to each species, which were ascertaining each species, approximately 150 bp, 300 bp and 450 bp, in the ML species. Remarkably, the primer BION-80 detected 7 shared loci by the three clam species, major and/or minor fragments of sizes 500 bp, which were matching in all samples. As regards average bandsharing value (BS) results, individuals from CS clam species (0.754) exhibited higher bandsharing values than did individuals from SP clam species (0.607) (P < 0.05). In this study, the dendrogram obtained by the seven oligonucleotides primers indicates three genetic clusters: cluster 1 (LUSORIA01-LUSORIA07), cluster 2 (PURPURATUS08-PURPURATUS14), cluster 3 (SINENSIS15-SINENSIS21). Among the twenty one venerid clams, the shortest genetic distance that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals 18 and 20 from the CS species (genetic distance = 0.071), while the longest genetic distance among the twenty-one individuals that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals LUSORIA no. 02 and PURPURATUS no. 09 (genetic distance = 0.778). Relatively, individuals of SP venerid species were appropriately closely related to that of CS species, as shown in the hierarchical dendrogram of genetic distances. Eventually, PCR fragments exposed in the present study may be worthwhile as a DNA marker the three venerid clam species to discriminate.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of nickel chloride ($NiCl_2$) exposure on oxidative stress of the abalone Haliotis discus hannai. Experimental groups were composed of one control condition and five nickel chloride exposure conditions (5.9, 8.8, 13.3, 20.0, 30.0 mg/L). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased in the foot and hepatopancreas, but decreased in the gill. Catalase (CAT) activity was increased in all exposure groups except 20.0 mg/L and 30.0 mg/L. In the gill, CAT activity was similar to the control group for all exposure groups. In the hepatopancreas, CAT activity was increased compared with the control group. However SOD and CAT activity showed not significant differences (P > 0.05).

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2015

The sex of bivalves is classified into gonochorism and hermaphroditism, and hermaphroditism is further divided into simultaneous (synchronous or functional), and sequential (asynchronous). The sequential hermaphroditism signifies sex reversal in accordance with seasons. In general, in the case of gonochoristic bivalves, manifestation of sex as female and male, after having identified the morphological sex, is limited to a period of the life cycle in any given individual. In order to accurately identify sex, continuous monitoring of changes in the sex during life cycle is necessary by tagging the sex. In the bivalves, sex reversal and sequential hermaphroditism has been reported in the Ostreidae, Pectinidae, Veneridae and Arcidae etc.. Most of these studies have reached this conclusion based on evidence derived from sex ratio change in accordance with the age within same populations. Sex change in the sequential hermaphroditic bivalves normally occurs when the gonad is undifferentiated between spawning seasons. Two factors are involved in sex determination and sex change in bivalves, namely genetic and environmental. However, more detailed research is needed on the effect of the genetic and environmental factors involved in sex determination and sex change of bivalves.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2010

Biomphalaria alexandrina snails play an indispensable role in transmission of schistosomiasis. Infection rates in field populations of snails are routinely determined by cercarial shedding neglecting prepatent snail infections, because of lack of a suitable method for diagnosis. The present study aimed at separation and quantification of oxalic, malic, acetic, pyruvic, and fumaric acids using ion-suppression reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to test the potentiality of these acids to be used as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers. The assay was done in both hemolymph and digestive gland-gonad complex (DGG) samples in a total of 300 B. alexandrina snails. All of the studied acids in both the hemolymph and tissue samples except for the fumaric acid in hemolymph appeared to be good diagnostic biomarkers as they provide not only a good discrimination between the infected snails from the control but also between the studied stages of infection from each other. The most sensitive discriminating acid was malic acid in hemolymph samples as it showed the highest F-ratio. Using the Z-score, malic acid was found to be a good potential therapeutic biomarker in the prepatency stage, oxalic acid and acetic acid in the stage of patency, and malic acid and acetic acid at 2 weeks after patency. Quantification of carboxylic acids, using HPLC strategy, was fast, easy, and accurate in prediction of infected and uninfected snails and possibly to detect the stage of infection. It seems also useful for detection of the most suitable acids to be used as drug targets.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2010

Spermatid differentiations during spermiogenesis and mature sperm ultrastructure in male Crassostrea nipponica were investigated by transmission electron microscope observations. The morphology of the spermatozoon of this species has a primitive type and is similar to those of other bivalves. Mature spermatozoa consist of broad, cap-shaped acrosomal vesicle and an axial rod in subacrosomal materials on an oval nucleus showing deeply invaginated anteriorly, two triplet substructure centrioles surrounded by four spherical mitochondria, and satelite fibres, which appear near the distal centriole. The acrosomal vesicle of spermatozoa of C. nipponica resemble to those of other investigated ostreids. Especially, two transverse bands (stripes) appear at the anterior region of the acrosomal vesicle, unlikely 2-3 transverse bands (stripes) in C. gigas. It is assumed that differences in this acrosomal substructure are associated with the inability of fertilization between the genus Crassostrea and other genus species in Ostreidae. Therefore, we can use sperm morphology in the resolution of taxonomic relationships within the Ostreidea. The sperm is approximately $48-50{\mu}m$ in length including an oval sperm nucleus (about $1.0{\mu}m$ in length and $1.41{\mu}m$ in width), an acrosome (about $0.48{\mu}m$ in length and 0.30 in width) and tail flagellum ($46-48{\mu}m$). The axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair at the center. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9 + 2 structure. These morphological charateristics of acrosomal vesicle belong to the family Ostreidae in the subclass Pteriomorphia.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.261-265
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• 2010

Reproductive biology of the purplish Washington clam, Saxidomus purpuratus was investigated based on the samples captured in Jinhae Bay, the East China Sea from January to December 2002. The gonad index (GI) began to increase in January, reached the maximum value in March. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages: the early active stage (from November to January), the late active stage (from December to February), the ripe stage (from February to May and October), the spawned stage (from May to December), and inactive stage (from November to December). The spawning period was from April to December, and the main spawning occurred between June and August. The shell length at 50% group maturity was estimated to be 71.85 mm. The Sex ratio of this species was not significantly different a 1:1 sex ratio (P > 0.05).

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.275-283
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• 2010

Many freshwater snail taxa are difficult to identify using morphological traits due to phenotypic plasticity. However, using of molecular DNA marker in combination with morphological traits can provide a reliable means for discriminating among freshwater snail taxa including cryptic species. To discriminate among Korean freshwater snail taxa and resolve their systematic relationships, wesequenced a fragment of mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene from 82 specimens collected from ten different sites distributed along the Korean peninsula. We identified more than seven freshwater snail taxa including cryptic species in Korea. Whereas traditional shell morphology of freshwater snails offers only weak discriminatory power for recognizing 'good' taxa, DNA sequence data provided positive and reliable identification. In addition, a major Semisulcospira clade was clearly separated from the remaining lineages observed including cryptic species. However, a phylogenetic tree inferred from the COI gene data did not fully resolve systematic relationships among pleurocerid taxa in Korea. Establishing more robust shell characteristics for identifying taxa unambiguously and hence improving traditional key shell morphology characters for freshwater snail species is an urgent requirement and will require more rigorous examination of all nominal taxa. While molecular data generated here will be useful for species identification and for describing the systematic relationships among Korean freshwater snails, further analysis will be required.