The nation has been designated as a global leader in the cancer epigenetics field by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS).

Epigenetics is the study of partial changes in the underlying DNA sequence and protein changes in areas around DNA.

Recent studies reveal that those changes are crucial in the formation of cancer cells.

The Korea Food and Drug Administration said the designation was made late last year by the OECD Endorsed Molecular Screening Project, a sub-organ of an advisory group on toxicogenomics set up by the OECD and IPCS.