In general, cloned pigs have been produced using the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique with various types of somatic cells; however, the SCNT technique has disadvantages not only in its low efficiency but also in the development of abnormal clones. This study aimed to compare early embryonic development and quality of SCNT embryos with those of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) NT embryos (iPSC-NTs). Ear fibroblast cells were used as donor cells and iPSCs were generated from these cells by lentiviral transduction with human six factors (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, Nanog, Klf4 and Lin28). Blastocyst formation rate in iPSC-NT (23/258, 8.9%) was significantly lower than that in SCNT (46/175, 26.3%; p < 0.05). Total cell number in blastocysts was similar between two groups, but blastocysts in iPSC-NT had a lower number of apoptotic cells than in SCNT (2.0 ± 0.6 vs. 9.8 ± 2.9, p < 0.05). Quantitative PCR data showed that apoptosis-related genes (bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9) were highly expressed in SCNT than iPSC-NT (p < 0.05). Although an early development rate was low in iPSC-NT, the quality of cloned embryos from porcine iPSC was higher than that of embryos from somatic cells. Therefore, porcine iPSCs could be used as a preferable cell source to create a clone or transgenic animals by using the NT technique.

Economic traits are quantitative traits and are mostly controlled by a large number of genes. Some these genes tend to have a large effect on quantitative traits in cattle and are known as major genes primarily located at quantitative traits loci (QTL). However, in practice, QTL is linked to allele associates of the gene controlling traits of interest. It is hypothesized that if QTL explaining a part of genetic differences between animals are detected, the effect of the genes located at QTL could assist in estimating an animal’s true genetic value. Therefore, QTL information could probably provides accuracy of breeding value estimation as well as more genetic gain through selection of animals at relatively younger age. Marker assisted selection (MAS) is the indirect selection process where a quantitative trait of economic importance is selected not just based on the trait itself but also on the basis of marker linked to QTL. MAS could be useful for traits that are difficult to measure, exhibit low heritability, and are expressed late in development. Major genes which are responsible for QTL could possibly be identified first by using different techniques such as gene expression analysis and QTL mapping. Thereafter, the information generated could be implemented for MAS in estimating breeding value. In this review we focused on delivering genome information into Hanwoo breeding program.

This study was conducted to investigate the variation of growth characteristics and reproductive physiology in cloned Hanwoo male calves during growing stage. The hematological parameters, body weight, and plasma hormonal levels, birth to 12 months, were analyzed in the cloned calves (n=3). Differences among treatment means were determined by a student t-test. A probability of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The hematological parameters, such as white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet, were not different in both normal and cloned calves. The difference of body weight, however, was significantly higher in the cloned calves, months (p<0.05) and months (p<0.01), than that of the comparators, respectively. The plasma IGF-1 level was statistically significant in the cloned calves, months, compared to that of the normal calves (p<0.05). However, the plasma testosterone level was not different in both normal and clone calves according to growing stage. Taken together, the cloned Hanwoo male calves are growing faster and maintaining a normal reproductive physiology.

DNA sequencer는 template로 이용하는 DNA의 quality와 sequencing 반응 산물의 정제 방법, 그리고 gel 농도에 민감하다고 알려져 있다. 이에 우리는 plasmid DNA의 준비, 정제, sequencing 반응, gel 농도와 injection medium 등에 대한 최적 조건을 구축하기 위한 연구를 수행하였다. Plasmid DNA 준비과정에서 phenol을 사용한 것 보다 chloroform을 사용한 것이 평균 reading length가 532 bp에서 684 bp로 향상 되었으며, 2.5% DMSO를 첨가한 것이 첨가하지 않은 것에 비해 200 bp 더 길게 염기서열 분석이 되었다. 또한, sequencing 반응산물 정제 시 50 mM EDTA와 0.6 M sodium acetate를 미리 섞어서 pH 8.0으로 맞춘 것을 사용한 것이 50 mM EDTA(pH 8.0)와 0.6 M sodium acetate(pH 5.2)를 각각 사용한 것 보다 20 bp 길게 염기서열 분석이 되었다. Injection medium으로는 실험실에서 resin으로 탈 이온화 시킨 formamide보다 정제된 ABI formamide를 사용한 것이 보다 재현성 있게 reading length가 90 bp 더 길게 분석 되었으며, 4% PAGE gel 보다 3.6% PAGE gel을 사용한 것이 150 bp 더 길게 분석 되었다. Template 준비 시 chloroform으로 정제하고 2.5% DMSO를 첨가, sequencing 반응산물 정제 시 carrier의 pH를 8.0으로 맞춘 것을 이용, 그리고 ABI formamide와 3.6% gel 농도를 사용하는 최적의 조건으로 평균 700 bp, 85% score를 얻을 수 있었다.