[The Hwankyung Ilbo] The Nakdongang National Institute of Biological Resources under the Ministry of Environment announced that it discovered a new microorganism, Deinococcus Koreensis, which has a strong resistance to radiation and ultraviolet rays, and plans to use it as a functional biomaterial.

Researchers at the Nakdongang National Institute of Biological Resources separated the Deinococcus Koreensis from the surface waters of the Seomjin River for the first time in June last year.

The researchers confirmed that the 'Koreensis' survived after being stung by radiation with greater than 10 kGy (kilogray) and ultraviolet rays with energy values up to 1200J/㎡. The figure is 200 times stronger than that of colon bacillus and 3,000 times stronger than that of animal cells.

The researchers published a paper on the scientific name information and genome results of the 'Koreensis' in the August issue of an international journal called Microbial Resource Announcements.

The Nakdongang National Institute of Biological Resources plans to carry out deepening studies such as optimization of culture and development of mass culture technology to utilize the 'Koreensis', which can survive in extreme environments, in the environmental purification technology field.

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