비타민A 강화벼와 ‘낙동’의 미꾸리(Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)와 잉어(Cyprinus carpio)에 대한 급성독성시험을 실시한 결과48시간 및 96시간-LC50은 1,000mg/L이상으로 나타났다. 48시간 및 96시간 무영향농도(NOEC)는 1,000mg/L이었다. 급성독성 시험기간 중 비타민A 강화벼와 낙동벼간의 pH, DO, 수온,체중 및 전장에 대한 유의적인 결과는 나타나지 않았다.

해충저항성 Bt벼와 낙동벼의 미꾸리(Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) 와 잉어(Cyprinus carpio)에 대한 급성독성시험을 실시한 결과 48시간 및 96시간-LC50은 1,000mg/L 이상으로 나타났다. 48시간 및 96시간 무영향농도(NOEC)는 1,000mg/L이었다. 급성독성 시험기간 중 해충저항성 Bt벼와 낙동벼간의 pH, DO, 수온, 체중 및 전장에 대한 유의적인 결과는 나타나지 않았다.

본 연구의 목적은 방화곤충에 의해 유전자변형 작물로부터 비변형작물로의 유전자 이동이 일어날 수 있는가를 조사하기 위한 프로토콜을 개발하는 것이다. 이를 위해 제초제저항성 형질전환 콩과 재배콩인 태광콩, 그리고 G. soja 시험구에서 발생하는 곤충상을 sweeping법으로 조사하였으며, 이들 시험구에서 화분매개 가능성을 가진 방화벌의 시간대별 출현빈도 및 부위별 화분 부착율을 조사하였다. 또한 채집한 서양종꿀벌로부터 부착된 화분을 이용, 핵산을 추출하고 PCR 증폭 가능성 여부를 분석하였다. 그 결과, 유전자변형 콩과 비변형 콩 사이의 곤충상에는 시기별로 유의성 있는 차이는 없는 것으로 조사되었다. 개화기 콩 꽃에서 서양종꿀벌의 출현빈도는 정오에 가장 높은 것으로 나타났다. 이들이 수확한 화분으로부터 핵산을 추출하여 PCR 을 수행하였을 때 lectin 유전자가 증폭된 것으로 보아 이들 화분은 콩으로부터 유래한 것임을 확인하였다.

Genetically modified (GM) crops have never been cultivated commercially in Korea, it is necessary for a thorough assessment of the risks associated with their environmental release. We quantified the amount determined the frequency of pollen mediated gene flow from disease resistant GM rice to weedy rice (R55). A total of 164,604 seeds were collected from weedy rice, which were planted around GM rice. Resistance of the hybrids was determined by repeated spraying of herbicide and DNA analysis using specific primer to confirm hybrids. Though weedy rice has similar flowering time, the hybrids were found only in non-GM rice and out-crossing ranged from 0.018% at 0.3 m to 0.013% at 0.6 m. All of hybrids were located within 0.6 m distance from the GM rice plot in southerly direction. The meteorological factors including temperature and relative humidity during flowering time were found to be the most important factors for determining rice out-crossing. It should be considered many factors like the local weather condition and flowering time to set up the safety management policy to prevent pollen mediated gene flow between GM and conventional crop.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is the most important staple food of over half the world’s population. This study was conducted to evaluate the possible impact of transgenic rice cultivation on the soil microbial community. Microorganisms were isolated from the rhizosphere of GM and non-GM rice cultivation soils. Microbial community was identified based on the culture-dependent and molecular biology methods. The total numbers of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycete in the rhizosphere soils cultivated with GM and non-GM rice were similar to each other, and there was no significant difference between GM and non-GM rice. Dominant bacterial phyla in the rhizosphere soils cultivated with GM and non-GM rice were Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. The microbial communities in GM and non-GM rice cultivated soils were characterized using the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The DGGE profiles showed similar patterns, but didn’t show significant difference to each other. DNAs were isolated from soils cultivating GM and non-GM rice and analyzed for persistence of inserted gene in the soil by using PCR. The PCR analysis revealed that there were no amplified protox gene in soil DNA. These data suggest that transgenic rice does not have a significant impact on soil microbial communities, although continued research may be necessary.

Genetically modified (GM) crops have been developed worldwide through the recombinant DNA technology and commercialized by various agricultural biotechnology companies. Commercialization of GM crops will be required the assessment of risk associated with the release of GM crops. The purpose of this research is a molecular characterization of introduced T-DNA in transgenic rice T4 ∼ T6 generation lines harboring a pepper MsrB2 gene under the control of stress inducible Rab21 promoter, as a part of biosafety evaluation for drought-tolerant transgenic rice (Agb0103). We identified the structure and sequence of transformation vector of T-DNA and analyzed insertion sites, flanking sequences, and generational stability of inserted T-DNA in transgenic rice lines. The transformation vector was consisted of right border, a drought-tolerant CaMsrB2 gene unit (Rab21 promoter::CaMsrB2::PinII terminator), a selectable marker herbicide resistance unit (CaMV 35S promoter::bar::Nos terminator), and left border in sequential order. Based on the adaptor-ligation PCR and whole genome sequence database, we confirmed that T-DNA was introduced 2 copies (head to head type) at the position of 2,471,957 ∼ 2,472,049 bp of chromosome No. 8. From the generational stability study, T-DNAs were stably inherited through the T4 to T6 generations, and also stable expression of bar gene from T-DNA was confirmed. It was also confirmed that the backbone DNA of transformation vector containing antibacterial gene (aadA) was not present in Agb0103 rice genome. These results will be filed to biosafety assessment document of Agb0103

Genetically modified (GM) crops have been developed worldwide through the recombinant DNA technology and commercialized by various agricultural biotechnological companies. Commercialization of GM crops will be required the assessment of risk associated with the release of GM crops. In this study, we carried out to provide the molecular characterization of introduced T-DNA in transgenic rice T4 ~ T6 generation lines harboring a pepper MsrB2 gene under the control of stress inducible Rab21 promoter, as a part of biosafety evaluation for drought-tolerant transgenic rice (CaMsrB2). We identified the structure and sequence of transformation vector of T-DNA and analyzed insertion sites, flanking sequences, and generational stability of inserted T-DNA in transgenic rice lines. The transformation vector was consisted of right border, a drought-tolerant CaMsrB2 gene unit, a selectable marker herbicide resistance unit, and left border in a sequential order. Based on the adaptor-ligation PCR and whole genome sequence database, we confirmed that T-DNA was introduced at the position of 41,737,284 bp of chromosome No. 1. From the generational stability study, T-DNAs were stably inherited through the T4 to T6 generations, and also stable expression of bar gene from T-DNA was confirmed. These results will be filed to biosafety assessment document of CaMsrB2 rice.

The cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops has increased due to their economic and agronomic advantages. Before commercialization of GM crops, however, we must assess the potential risks of GM crops on human health and environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible impact of Bt rice on the soil microbial community. Microbial communities were isolated from the rhizosphere soil cultivated with Bt rice and Nakdong, parental cultivar and were subjected to be analyzed using both culture-dependent and molecular methods. The total counts of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes in the rhizosphere of transgenic and conventional rice were not significantly different. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes revealed that the bacterial community structures during cultural periods were very similar each other. Analysis of dominant isolates in the rhizosphere cultivated with Bt and Nakdong rice showed that the dominant isolates from the soil of Bt rice and Nakdong belonged to the Proteobacteria, Cloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria. These results indicate that the Bt rice has no significant impact on the soil microbial communities during cultivation period. Further study remains to be investigated whether the residue of Bt rice effect on the soil environment.