This study aims to examine the effect of Genetically Modified β -Carotene Biofortified Rice rice developed by simultaneous expression technology in NAAS on biological immunity. Accordingly, this study added Genetically Modified β-Carotene Biofortified Rice 25, 50% and general rice 50% as control group into diet and provided rats with the prescribed feeds and then measured the contents of immunoglobulin and cytokine in blood. As a result, male and female IgM, IgE, male IgG1, female IgG2a and TNF-a, IL5 and IL12 showed no significant difference; male IgG2a tended to decrease dependently on the combined concentration of Genetically Modified β-Carotene Biofortified Rice; female IgG1 showed significance with control group, but its association with diet was not found. The higher the dietary mixing ratio, the more the male and female IFN-a and female IL-4 contents, regardless of rice variety, and it was found that female IL6 content decreased significantly, but its association with diet was not found. The risk of beta carotene-enriched rice into environment and human body has not been reported yet. The digestion of Genetically Modified β-Carotene Biofortified Rice can be seen as "safe" as this test result showed no big difference between general rice and Genetically Modified β-Carotene Biofortified Rice, and its usability is full of suggestions.

This study was a survey of consumer awareness and attitudes about genetically modified foods and their labeling regulations. Questionnaires were distributed to 4,620 consumers who lived in different areas of Korea, and 4,076 people responded. The consumers were asked about knowledge, labeling information, and their sources of information about GM foods. Respondents from Seoul, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam answered mostly "nearly don't know > moderate > never know > know a little." Respondents from Gyeonggi answered "moderate > nearly don't know > never know > know a little." According to occupation, housewives, company employees, consultants, and students answered mostly "nearly don't know > moderate > never know > know a little. "Consumers answered about the intent to buy GM foods differently according to area, occupation, and education. Seoul and Gyeonggi residents said that reinforcing factors to relieve the insecurity of GM foods were "evaluating safety > management of GM foods by the government > GM food regulation system." There were other answers according to area, occupation, and education. About GM-related education methods that they wished to have, residents of the Seoul area said "books/leaflets" most often, but residents of the Gyounggi area said "attending a lecture" most often. Housewives also said "attending a lecture," but teachers and students said "Internetbased education" most often. About the kinds of education that they could join, Seoul residents answered "consumer groups > school parents > public institutions," but Gyeonggi and Chungnam area residents answered "public institutions > consumer groups > school parents." Housewives and students answered "consumer groups" most often, but consultants and private business owners answered "public institutions" most often. We realized that different education methods were necessary for different areas, occupations, and education levels.

Although the National Institute of Health (NIH, USA) miniature pigs were developed specifically for xenotransplantation, the cloning efficiency is still very low. To increase the efficiency, an advanced somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) method may need. In the present study, we report the productions of genetically modified cloned pigs using the frozen-thawed donor cells without culture before SCNT. Fibroblasts were isolated from an ear skin of a 10-day-old NIH miniature pig. The fibroblast cells were genetically modified with the human CD73 (hCD73). For SCNT, somatic cells transfected with hCD73 were used as donor cells. The survival rate of the somatic cells was significantly higher in 0 h (95%) compared with 1 h (81%) after thawing (p<0.05). We obtained the pregnancy (38.9%, 7/18) and delivery (11.1%, 2/18) rate, respectively. Totally 7 genetically modified cloned piglets were delivered. Among them, 2 piglets were survived and 5 piglets were born stillbirth. The healthy 2 piglets are still survived (≥6 months).

A survey of consumer awareness and attitudes was conducted about genetically modified (GM) foods and the labeling regulations. The questionnaires were distributed to 4,620 consumers who lived in a variety of areas in Korea, and 4,076 people responded. The consumers were asked about knowledge, labeling information, and the source of obtaining information about GM foods. More than 11.5% of the consumers had never heard about GM foods and 86.9% of consumers had less than a normal level of knowledge about GM foods. No statistically significant relationship was found between genders, but the teachers group had moderate knowledge (p<0.001). In total, 28.4% of consumers did not know the GMO labeling regulations. They answered that the reason to buy GM food was do not know>nothing wrong>create benefit>think as safe>inexpensive. The answers to the question of what was the first benefit were: solve food shortage>functional and nutritious food>cultivate in bad condition>nothing>various cultivars. They answered that the worst factor was the next generation effect>environmental disruption. Regarding the development of GM food in Korea, males answered do not know>stronglyrecommend>defer>strongly suppress. Female answered: don't know>defer>strongly recommend>strongly suppress. More than half of the respondents did not have much information about GM foods; 88.3% of respondents answered they did not have educational experience about GM food.

Field studies were conducted to assess potential effects of transgenic rice expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) CryIAc1 protein, which is highly effective the rice leafroller, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, on the rice insect community in 2007 and 2008. Insects were sampled in non-Bt and Bt rice plots with a sweep net and a suction devise. A total of 64,256 individuals in 45 families and 11 orders (30,860 individuals in 43 families and 11 orders in the Bt-rice plots, and 33,396 individuals in 40 families and 11 order in the non-Bt rice plots) were captured and grouped by ecological functional guilds. Species diversity and richness were not significantly different between Bt-rice and non-Bt rice plots. The seasonal pattern of the insect community and the seasonal population fluctuation of insects were very similar between two plots. Collectively, the rice insect community was not influenced by the Bt-rice in the present study.

미국, 일본과 우리나라 모두 종자에 대해 품종보호제도와 특허제도에 의한 중복보호를 부여하고 있다. GM종자의 경우 유전형질변환과정에 인간의 창작이 개입되었기 때문에 특허로 보호받을 수 있을 것이지만, 여전히‘종자’이므로 품종보호제도를 통한 보호도 가능할 것인데 품종보호제도 혹은 특허제도 중 어느 것으로 보호받을지는 발명자의 선택사항이다. GM종자와 관련하여 두 제도의 가장 큰 차이점은 권리의 효력제한 범위이다. 각국별로 다소 차이는 있지만 품종보호제도에서는 일반적으로 농부의 자가채종행위에는 품종보호권(혹은 육성자권)의 효력이 미치지 않는다는 명문의 규정을 두어 인류의 역사에서 오래된 관행을 인정하고 있지만 특허제도에는 이에 대응하는 명문의 규정이 없고 특허제품의 최초판매에 의해 판매된 물건에 대해서는 특허권의 소진한다는 판례법상의 원칙이 GM종자 발명에는 어떻게 적용될 것인지가 문제가 된다. 미국의 GM콩종자 사건에서 문제가 된 것은 조건부 판매에 의해 특허권의 소진이 제한되는지와 자기복제발명의 경우 소진을 어떻게 적용할 것인지였는데, 첫 번째 쟁점에 대한 미국과 일본에서의 논의를 정리해 보면, 미국 CAFC의 Mallinckrodt 판결 하에서 계약에 의한 소진회피 가능성은 높았지만 Quanta 판결에 의해 그 여지가 많이 줄어들었다고 볼 수 있고 일본의 경우는 원칙적으로는 불가하고 소유권유보나 해제조건부 라이센스 등 매우 제한적인 가능성만이 열려 있다고 볼 수 있다. 다만 미국과 일본 모두 판례에 대한 비판적 견해가 제기되는 것을 보면‘특허권자의 계약방법 선택의 자유’ 와 ‘제3자의 거래안전 보호’라는 상충하는 이익의 조화를 꾀할 수 있는 결론 및 그 이론구성에 대해 향후 지속적인 검토가 필요할 것으로 보인다. 두 번째 쟁점과 관련하여서는 후세대 종자에 대한 소진의 적용을 배제한 연방순회항소법원의 결론에는 동의하지만 후세대 종자가 판매된 적이 없다는 논거보다는‘생산’이라는 개념을 기준으로 판단하는 것이 타당하지 않은가 생각된다.

This study was aimed to develop a novel qualitative multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for simultaneous detection of genetically modified (GM) soy and maize within a single reaction. The specific primers designed to detect four respective GM events (A2704-12, MON88017, Bt11, and MON863) were included in the tetraplex PCR system. Each of PCR products for four GM events could be distinguished by agarose gel based on their different lengths. The specificity and reproducibility of this multiplex PCR were evaluated. This multiplex PCR consistently amplified only a fragment corresponding to a specific inserted gene in each of the four GM events and also amplified all four of the PCR products in the simulated GM mixture. These results indicate that this multiplex PCR method could be an effective qualitative detection method for screening GM soy and maize in a single reaction.

The effects of the genetically modified virus-resistant pepper (line: H15) and the Non-GM pepper (line: P2377) on the insect community in the pepper cultivation area were evaluated. Sampling was conducted using yellow sticky traps and pheromone funnel traps in Anseong and Deokso fields. Total number of insects caught on sticky trap were 3924 individuals at GM pepper and 3670 individuals at Non-GM pepper in Anseong and 2362 individuals at GM and 2528 individuals at Non-GM in Deokso, respectively. The total number of the insect individuals caught by sticky trap was not shown significant differences between GM and Non-GM pepper at Anseong and Deokso fields, respectively. The number of aphids per sticky trap ranged from 11.60±2.02 to 1.92±0.96 at Non-GM and from 11.56±2.15 to 0.33±0.23 at GM in Anseong, and from 2.78±1.22 to 0.11±0.08 and from 2.73±0.84 to 0.11±0.08 at Non-GM and GM pepper in Deokso, respectively. There were no significant differences in seasonal occurrences of aphids caught on sticky traps in GM and Non-GM pepper at both fields, and significant differences in aphids population density between Non-GM and GM were not observed.

The effects of the genetically modified virus-resistant pepper (line: 15, 20) and the non-GM pepper (line: 2377, 915) on the insect community in the pepper cultivation area were evaluated. Sampling was conducted using yellow sticky traps and pheromone funnel traps in Anseong and Deokso fields. Total number of insects caught on sticky trap were 3273 individuals at GM pepper and 2949 individuals at non-GM pepper in Anseong and 4357 individuals at GM and 3712 individuals at non-GM in Deokso. Total number of aphids collected on leaves were 451 and 330 individuals at GM and non-GM pepper in Anseong, respectively and 79 individuals at GM and 41 individuals at non-GM pepper in Deokso. The total number of the insect individuals caught on sticky trap was not shown significant differences between GM and non-GM pepper at Anseong and Deokso fields, respectively. Also, there were no significant differences in seasonal occurrences of aphids caught on sticky traps in GM and non-GM pepper at both fields. This work was supported financially by Biogreen21 project of Rural Development Administration (No. 20070301-034-010).

For the physiological study on environmental impact of genetically modified (GM) pepper plant on non-target but three-trophically related insect species, we investigated behavioral responses of Aphis gossypii and Aphidius colemani in Y-tube olfactometer to the cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-resistant transgenic pepper plant (H15 GM line) expressing coat protein gene of CMV and its wild type pepper plant (untransformed, susceptible to CMV pathotype II, P2377 inbred line) in relation to CMV infection. CMV-infected plants were prepared with the 30 min of inoculation by the winged A. gossypii viruliferous or mechanical inoculation using CMV-Fny, and with molecular diagnosis using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) over 2 weeks after inoculation. In this study, time for attraction responses (attraction time) of A. gossypii were not significantly different in the pepper strain, and the virus infection of plant. However, the attraction time of A. colemani was significantly different between the GM plant and the non-GM plant. In addition, the attraction time of A. colemani to the GM plant was significantly decreased according to the CMV infection. For further study, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by these plants were collected with an entrainment kit and analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) on HP-1 column. The specific VOCs related to CMV infection were detected in the GM plant over 4 weeks after inoculation of CMV in this study. Thus, it is suggested that VOCs of the GM plant in this study may be produced more as a signal attracting A. colemani in relation to CMV infection.

A survey on consumer’s awareness and perception toward genetically-modified (GM) foods was conducted on 2110 random samples of Korean consumers. More than 65% of the respondents were exposed to some information related to GM foods. The respondents answered that the greatest benefit of the development of GM foods is remedy of potential food shortages in the future. More than 90% of Korean consumers wanted GM foods to be labeled as such. More than 50% of the respondents would not buy until they know more about GM foods. Only 35.8% of Korean consumers were found to know that food items originating from plants contained genes. More consumers responded that they would not buy herbicide-resistant GM soybean but buy vitamin-enriched GM soybean. Many Korean consumers' decision of acceptance or rejection of GM foods depend not on the basis of biotechnology, but on the basis of the degree of benefit to the consumers. Only 6.4% of Korean consumers responded that GM foods were the greatest threat to the safety of Korean foods. The perception of Korean consumers on GM foods has not changed significantly during the past 5 years.

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of trust, knowledge, optimism, risk and benefits on consumer attitudes toward genetically modified foods. A total of 326 questionnaires were completed. Moderated regression analysis was used to measure the relationships among the variables. The analysis results for the data indicated a good model fit in Model 2 rather than Model 1, in which the direct effects of trust, optimism and benefits had statistically significant direct effects on the respondents' attitudes toward genetically modified foods, while the direct effects of knowledge and risk were not statistically significant. As expected, the interaction term of risk and benefit had a significant effect on consumer attitude. Moreover, the effect of risk on consumer's attitude toward genetically modified foods was statistically significant at all levels of benefit, except at the lower benefit level. Finally, the results of this study indicated that genetically modified food developers and marketers should attach importance to the interaction effect of benefits to understand the elements of market demand and customer loyalty.

유전자재조합식품과 관련된 담당 총무원 및 기타 전문가들의 인지도출 조사하기 위해서 설문조사를 실시하였다. 응답자들을 근무년수별, 소속별, 업무별로 분류하였으며 설문지의 각 문항에 대한 결과는 위 분류별로 통계분석하여 빈도수 및 응답률로 나타내었다. 조사 결과, 유전자재조차식품에 대해 들어본 경험은 95% 이상으로 나타났으며, 유전자재조합식품의 혜택은 식량난 해결이라고 가장 만이 응답하였다. 유선자재조합식품의 표시에 대해서는 '90% 이상이 표시해야 한다' 또는 '가급적 표시해야 한다'로 응답하석 식품위생공무원 및 기타 전문가들은 유전자재조합 표시를 절실히 필요로 하고 있었으며 학력 수준 및 전문 수준이 높을수록 구입하여 먹을 의향이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 응답자 대부분은 근무년수별, 소속별, 업무별 구분에 상관없이 기본적인 지식은 있는 것으로 나타났으나 시·도 공무원 및 국립검역소 그룹은 다른 전문가 그룹에 비해서 유선자재조합식품에 대한 정보가 부족한 깃으로 나타났다. 유전자재조합식품에 대한 안전성 인식은 대제로 안전하다는 견해를 가지고 있었으나 20년 이상 근무자와 일반 행정 업무자는 다른 그룹에 비매시 안신하지 않거나 불안하다는 견해를 더 많이 나타냈다 식품의 안전성을 위협하는 가장 큰 요인은 ‘식품취급 부주의 및 취급 불량'으로 응답하였으며, 유전자재조합식품이 위협요인이라고 응답한 사람은 매우 적었나(4.4%). 결론적으로 유전자재조합식품 관련 공무원 및 기타 전문가들은 일반시민들에 비해서 섭취나 안전성에 보다 긍정적인 견해를 나타냈지만 생물학 지식에 대해서는 그룹별 차이가 있었으며 유전자재조한식품에 대한 민인업무 치리에 어려운 점을 겪고 있는 것으로 보아 관련 전문가들에게도 교육 및 홍보가 필요한 것으로 파악되었다