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Future Value Found in Dokdo, Discovery of New Marine Organisms and Patent Registration of New Anticancer Materials
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Date
2026.10.20.
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117
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Future Value Found in Dokdo,
Discovery of New Marine Organisms and Patent Registration of New Anticancer Materials
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that a research team from the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (President Lee Hee-seung) discovered a new marine species and new anticancer materials, and obtained new genomic information on Dokdo shrimp in the waters surrounding Dokdo. With this, the scientific and economic value of the Dokdo marine ecosystem is expected to increase further.
MOF is conducting marine surveys and research projects on Dokdo and surrounding waters through the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology—a government-funded research institute under its jurisdiction—to support the sustainable use of Dokdo. Through this work, researchers confirmed that approximately 1,700 species of marine organisms form an interconnected ecosystem in the waters around Dokdo; in particular, they recently discovered the world's first new marine species, new materials, and new genomic information.
First, the research team named the new nematode species discovered for the first time in the waters off Dokdo the Dokdo Gangchi nematode (Paradraconema gangchii) and published the findings in an international academic journal. Gangchi is the Korean name for the sea lion; once called Gaje, Gaji, or Gajieo, it is remembered today as Gangchi. It is highly significant that the name of the Dokdo sea lion—which is now extinct due to overhunting during the Japanese colonial period—has been given to a new species of marine life on Dokdo.
* Nematodes: Small, thread-like or cylindrical animals resembling earthworms that live in the sea and feed on protozoa and bacteria in benthic ecosystems (seabed)
In addition, the institute isolated a beneficial strain (Actinomadura geliboluensis) from marine organisms collected off Dokdo and discovered two novel anticancer substances in its culture extract. These substances were confirmed to exhibit excellent anticancer activity even at much lower concentrations than Adriamycin, a well-known existing anticancer drug. US patent registration was completed this year, with the substances expected to be used in the future development of new anticancer drugs.
Furthermore, tissue-specific transcriptome* data were obtained for three species of Dokdo shrimp—humpback shrimp, spiny lebbeid shrimp, and morotoge shrimp—with the genome of humpback shrimp sequenced, yielding key genetic information. This genetic information is scheduled to be registered with the US National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and other organizations and will be used in the future for the scientific verification of the uniqueness of the Dokdo shrimp, genetic research, and resource management.
* A set of all RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecules present within a cell at a specific time/condition
“We will continue to uncover the hidden value of Dokdo’s marine life through marine surveys and research. We will strive to preserve and manage Dokdo’s healthy marine ecosystem and our unwavering maritime territory so that we can pass it on to future generations,” said Seo Jin-hee, Director General of International Cooperation Policy at MOF.
Discovery of New Marine Organisms and Patent Registration of New Anticancer Materials
- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announces results of marine survey and research on Dokdo and surrounding waters
- ▲Discovery of a new species of Dokdo sea lion nematode, ▲US patent registration for two new anticancer substances, and ▲Efforts to preserve and manage the marine ecosystem by securing Dokdo shrimp genomic information...
- ▲Discovery of a new species of Dokdo sea lion nematode, ▲US patent registration for two new anticancer substances, and ▲Efforts to preserve and manage the marine ecosystem by securing Dokdo shrimp genomic information...
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that a research team from the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (President Lee Hee-seung) discovered a new marine species and new anticancer materials, and obtained new genomic information on Dokdo shrimp in the waters surrounding Dokdo. With this, the scientific and economic value of the Dokdo marine ecosystem is expected to increase further.
MOF is conducting marine surveys and research projects on Dokdo and surrounding waters through the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology—a government-funded research institute under its jurisdiction—to support the sustainable use of Dokdo. Through this work, researchers confirmed that approximately 1,700 species of marine organisms form an interconnected ecosystem in the waters around Dokdo; in particular, they recently discovered the world's first new marine species, new materials, and new genomic information.
First, the research team named the new nematode species discovered for the first time in the waters off Dokdo the Dokdo Gangchi nematode (Paradraconema gangchii) and published the findings in an international academic journal. Gangchi is the Korean name for the sea lion; once called Gaje, Gaji, or Gajieo, it is remembered today as Gangchi. It is highly significant that the name of the Dokdo sea lion—which is now extinct due to overhunting during the Japanese colonial period—has been given to a new species of marine life on Dokdo.
* Nematodes: Small, thread-like or cylindrical animals resembling earthworms that live in the sea and feed on protozoa and bacteria in benthic ecosystems (seabed)
In addition, the institute isolated a beneficial strain (Actinomadura geliboluensis) from marine organisms collected off Dokdo and discovered two novel anticancer substances in its culture extract. These substances were confirmed to exhibit excellent anticancer activity even at much lower concentrations than Adriamycin, a well-known existing anticancer drug. US patent registration was completed this year, with the substances expected to be used in the future development of new anticancer drugs.
Furthermore, tissue-specific transcriptome* data were obtained for three species of Dokdo shrimp—humpback shrimp, spiny lebbeid shrimp, and morotoge shrimp—with the genome of humpback shrimp sequenced, yielding key genetic information. This genetic information is scheduled to be registered with the US National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and other organizations and will be used in the future for the scientific verification of the uniqueness of the Dokdo shrimp, genetic research, and resource management.
* A set of all RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecules present within a cell at a specific time/condition
“We will continue to uncover the hidden value of Dokdo’s marine life through marine surveys and research. We will strive to preserve and manage Dokdo’s healthy marine ecosystem and our unwavering maritime territory so that we can pass it on to future generations,” said Seo Jin-hee, Director General of International Cooperation Policy at MOF.
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