NS1

Lesson 6
Notable comparison of then and now:

Then Now

Mortality Rate Increased - Technology: Lesser women and children die during birth
Medical care for premature infants allows them to survive and develop normally, and
proper maternal care ensures mothers will fully recover and remain empowered
Average Lifespan Shorten Science able to prolong lives by:
Enhancing living status
Discovering different remedies to most diseases
Distribution of medicine is easier and faster
- People engage less in combat
- Less likely to die in treatable diseases
Literacy Rate Use what is Access to education creates a more informed public that could determine a more just
available society
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) GDP used to determine the value of the country’s goods and services produced within
the territory given a certain time period.
Higher country income = high productivity
Often an indicator of presence of tech

GDP – used to determine the value of the country’s goods and services produced within the territory given a certain time period.
Literacy Rate – access to education of more individuals

Events before the Common Era Events during the Common Era
 Used stones as knife  Agriculture
 Laws of friction and heat  Anthropocene extinction
 Fixation on female anatomy  Formation of communities
 Used animal skin as clothing  Gather as much products as possible
 Forging metal work  Holocene extinction
 Religion  Overfishing
 Peaceful negotiation instead of war
 Start of population growth
 Trading
 Wealth as their objective

Generation gap - can be used to describe the differences in actions, beliefs and tastes members of younger generations when compared to members
of older generations regarding politics, values and other matters.
Generation gap is attributed mainly to the changes brought by technology

Lesson 7
Happiness – the end goal of life
Good life – a term for the life that one would like to live, or for happiness, associated (as eudaimonia) with the work of Aristotle and his teaching on
Ethics.

Eudaimonia – focus is on living life in a full and deeply satisfying way

- A term for the life that one would like to live or for happiness; greek word for happiness
- Central aim of stoic philosophy

Hedonia – focus in on happiness, seek pleasure

- Presence of positive effect
- Absence of negative effect

Virtues we must practice to achieve happiness according to Aristotle

 Practical wisdom – the ability to “deliberate well about what is good and expedient for oneself”.
 Temperance – voluntary self – restraint with regard to pleasurable activities
  Contemplation – reflection towards inner thoughts
 Courage – the tendency to act in order to achieve some good even when facing the risk of physical harm
 Intelligence and scientific knowledge
 Generosity and friendship

Key Variable used to explain happiness

 Freedom
 Generosity
 Health
 Income
 Life expectancy
 Social support
 Trust

For Aristotle, ultimate happiness would be contemplation

The good life is associated with Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
Feminism ensures that mothers can fully recover and remain empowered

Greatest Happiness Principle – declared by John Stuart Mill (18th century, british philosopher
- An action is right as far as it maximizes the attainment of happiness for the greatest number of people.
When an action benefits the greatest number of people, said action is deemed ethical.

Different Schools of Thought

1. Materialism
- Democritus and Leucippus(Greece) led a school whose primary belief is that the world is made up of and is controlled by
the tiny indivisible units called atomos or seeds.
- According to them, the world and human itself is made up of matter. As such only material entities matter.
- In terms of Human Flourishing, matter is what makes us attain happiness. Most people who are clinging on to material
wealth as the primary source of the meaning of their existence.

2. Hedonism – “the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence”; “hedone” greek word for pleasure
- See the end goal of life in acquiring pleasure.
- Life is about obtaining and indulging in pleasure because life is limited.
- Their mantra: “"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die"

3. Stoicism – 301 BC
- The idea that to generate happiness, one must learn to distance oneself and be apathetic(indifferent). We should adopt the
fact that some things are not within out control. The sooner we realize this, the happier we can become.

* According to its teachings, as social beings, the path to happiness for humans is found in accepting this moment as it presents itself, by not allowing
ourselves to be controlled by our desire for pleasure or our fear of pain, by using our minds to understand the world around us and to do our part in
nature's plan, and by working together and treating others fairly and justly. To live a good life, one had to understand the rules of the natural order
since they taught everything was rooted in nature.

4. Theism – belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially belief in one god as creator of the universe, intervening in it and sustaining a
personal relation to his creatures.
- Catholic country, is witness to how people base their life goals on beliefs that hinged on some form of supernatural reality called
heaven. The world where we are in is only just a temporary reality where we have to maneuver around while waiting for the
ultimate return to the hands of God.
- Thus, the ultimate basis of happiness is the communion with God.

5. Humanism - term was coined by theologian Friedrich Niethammer( a Bavarian commissioner) at the beginning of the 19th century
- the freedom of man to carve his own destiny and to legislate his own laws, free from the shackles of a God that monitors and
controls.
- Man is the captain of his own ship
- Inspired by the enlightenment in 17th century, humanist see themselves not merely as stewards of the creation but as individuals
who are in control of themselves and the world outside them
- humanism refers to a perspective that affirms some notion of human freedom and progress. It views humans as solely
responsible for the promotion and development of individuals and emphasizes a concern for man in relation to the world
 - the world is a place and space for freely unearthing the world in seeking for ways on how to improve the lives of its inhabitants
Lesson 8&9

Computer – electronic device that stores and process data

Internet – worldwide system of interconnected networks that facilitate data transmission among innumerable computers

Timeline of Information Age

1 – First microprocessor chip was introduced by Intel
2 – Optical laserdisc was developed by Philips and MCA
3 – Standard videodisc encoding format was agreed by MCA and Philips
4 – Altair Microcomputer was released
5 – The first personal computer was introduced by RadioShack
6 – Apple Macintosh computer was introduced
7 – Artificial intelligence was separated from information science
8 – Hyper card was developed by Bill Atkinson recipe box metaphor
9 -450 complete works of literature on 1 CD – ROM was released
10 – A 48 – bit number was cracked RSA Internet security code

Timeline of Information Age

1 – TV Camera tube was invented by Zvorkyn
2 – First practical sound movie was invented
3 – Regularly scheduled TV broadcasting in the US was started
4 – Beginnings of information science as a discipline were made
5 – The invention of hypertext was foreseen by Vannevar Bush
6 – ENIAC computer was developed
7 – Birth of field of information theory was proposed by Claude E. Shannon
8 – Planar transistor was developed by Jean Hoerni
9 – First integrated circuit was created
10 – Machine readable code in the library of congress was developed

Positive effects of technology Negative effects of technology

 Better good and services  Health risks
 Communication  Increased population
 Employment  Pollution
 Entertainment  Poor academic performance
 Improved education and learning process  Privacy and security
 Transportation  Resource Depletion

Social Impact of Technology in work place

 Increased speed and efficiency Reasons why people use the internet
 Innovative notetaking and brainstorming  Bank and invest
 Telecommuting  Communicate
 Communication  Share information
 Performance Management  Shop

Types of Website
 Blog
 Business/Marketing
 Educational
 Informational
 News
 Online Social Network
Robots
A. Industrial Robots
B. Service Robots
a. Personal Service Robots b.Professional Service Robots
Examples: Examples:
 Domestic servant robot  Cleaner for public places
 Automated wheelchair  Messenger robot in offices
 Personal mobility assistant  Firefighting robot
 Pet exercising robot  Rehabilitation robot
 Surgery robots

Lesson 10&11

Biodiversity – variety of life forms in the entire earth

Genetic Engineering – is the modification of an organism’s genetic composition by artificial means, often involving the transfer of specific traits, or
genes, from one organism into a plant or animal of an entirely different species.
- During genetic engineering processes, specific genes are removed from one organism and inserted into another plant or
animal, thus transferring specific traits.

Process of Genetic Engineering:

1. DNA Extraction and Isolation
2. Cloning and Designing Genes
3. Transformation
4. Cell and Tissue Culture
5. Plant Breeding

Includes:
1. Gene Splicing

Involves the removal of a portion of DNA from a host organism. This is followed by the introduction of a new gene taken from another
organism as replacement for the spliced gene. Then, the newly recombined DNA is reintroduced into the host cells. The recombined DNA or
recombinant DNA enables the host cell to produce enzymes or other chemicals which it was not capable of producing before splicing.

Normally, the bacteria Escherichia coli cannot produce insulin. Gene splicing has made it possible to insert a gene that codes for insulin
production. The E.coli with the recombined DNA for the synthesis of insulin can become a virtual insulin factory.

2. Cloning

Widely used in plants and lower forms of animals for the propagation of better varieties of grains, milk, eggs, and meat. In cloning, the
nucleus of a body cell (autosome) such as the skin cell, is transferred to an enucleated gamete cell by microsurgery. After the nucleus transfer,
the gamete cell behaves like a fertilized cell since it is now has a diploid chromosome component. The diploid gamete develops into an
individual that is exactly identical to the donor of the nucleus.

3. Test tube babies

Another breakthrough in science. A mature egg is taken from the female at the time of ovulation. The egg is then fertilized by a sperm cell
in vitro, in this case in a test tube. Once the egg is fertilized, it is implanted in the uterus. The embryo develops and grows in the uterus until
birth.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
- An organism created through genetic engineering
- An organism, either plant, animal, or microorganism, in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally
or by mating or natural recombination. (WHO, 2014)

HGP – Human Genome Project

NBF – National Biosafety Framework

Provisioning service of ecosystem

 Energy
 Fibers
 Food
 Medicine
 Wood

Regulating services of ecosystem

 Climate regulation
 Crop pollination
 Disease control
 Waste decomposition
 Water filtration

Threats to biodiversity
 Alteration in ecosystem composition
 Global climate change
 Habitat loss ad destruction
 Over-exploitation
 Pollution and contamination

Effect in humans of GMO consumption

 GMOs may alter the balance of existing microorganisms in the human digestive system
 Production of toxins
 Production of allergens

GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries

The Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health (CEEH, 2013) identifies the following roles of GMOs in the food and agricultural
industries:

1. Pest Resistance – genetically modified plants to resist pests.

Example: Bt Corn
The DNA of the BT Corn has been modified with the gene of Bacillus thuringienses, a soil bacterium that produces proteins which
is toxic to corn borers (worms).

2. Virus Resistance – genetically modified plants to resist certain viruses.

Example: GM Papaya
The papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is known to be detrimental to papaya plant.
The protein of PRSV was introduced to the papaya plant through plant tissue which turned out to be resistant to the virus itself.
The effect was like the vaccines humans have against measles or influenza virus.

3. Herbicide tolerance – genetically modified plant to tolerate herbicide.

Example: Roundup Ready Soybean
Glyphosphate, an herbicide for weeds, was introduced to soybeans making it tolerant to the herbicide itself. Farmers can spray
the herbicide killing the weeds but not the soybeans.

4. Fortification – genetically modified plants fortified with certain minerals.

Example: Golden Rice
Beta – carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, was introduced through biosynthesis genes to the rice, making the rice grains fortified
with vitamin A.
 5. Cosmetic preservation – genetically modified plants resist natural discoloration.
Example: Arctic Apple
The apple variety was genetically modified to suppress the browning of apple due to superficial damage.

6. Increase growth rate – a genetically modified organism that has higher yield in growth than normal species.
Example: AquAdvanatge Salmon
A gene from an ocean pout, an eel – like fish was introduced to Pacific Chinook salmon, making the salmon grow faster that its
normal rate.

GMOs in Non – Food crops and Microorganisms

1. Flower production – GMOs in flower production are seen in modified color and extended vase life of flowers.
Example: Blue Roses
Blue roses are in reality, lilac or purple, contained cyanidine 3,5-diglucoside, together with large amounts of flavonols. The
introduction of the flavonoid 31, 51-hydroxylase gene into pelargonidin – or cyaniding – producing rose cultivars diverts the anthocyanin
biosynthetic pathway toward the production of delphinidin glucosides and the flower color to blue.

2. Paper production – modified characteristics of trees for higher yield of paper production.
Example: Poplar Trees
Lignin is a complex polymer in trees that is removed from wood to make paper through craft process, through inserting genes that
code for ferulic acid in young poplar trees, the lignin structure is modified, making lignin easier to breakdown.

3. Pharmaceutical productions – modified plants to produce pharmaceutical products.

Example: Periwinkle plants
Bacterial genes were added to the periwinkle plant to enhance the production of vinblastine, an alkaloid usually added to drugs for
cancer treatments like Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

4. Bioremediation – use of modified plants that can assist in the bioremediation of polluted sites.
Example: Shrub Tobacco
Nicotiana glauca, or shrub tobacco genetically modified with phytochelatin TaPCSI1, is used for bioremediation. It shows high
level accumulation of zinc, lead, cadmium, nickel, and boron and produces high biomass.

5. Enzyme and drug production – use of modified microorganism that can produce enzymes for food processing and medicines.
Example: CGTase
Artemesin

Cyclomaltodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase), an enzyme used for food flavor enhancer, is produced in higher quantity by
bacterium Bacillus which was genetically modified with the gene of a thermophilic anaerobe, Thermoanaerobacter, carrying CGTase.

Artemesinic Acid is a compound used for anti – malarial drug extracted from sweet wordwood plant. Through genetic engineering,
it can be synthetically produced by yeast and bacteria with sweet wordwood plant gene.

6. GMOs in the medical field – genetic engineering is playing a significant role from diagnosis to treatment of human – dreaded diseases. It
helps in the production of drugs, gene therapy, and laboratory researches.

Example: Humulin
Humulin is the genetically engineered insulin used by Type 1 diabetes patients who are insulin dependent. In the past, insulin was
extracted from pancreases of pigs and cows causing allergic reactions. In 1978, researchers from the City of Hope National Medical Center
and Genentech Biotechnology Company were able to produce human insulin. The gene for insulin was inserted to bacterial DNA that was
able to produce almost exactly the same human insulin. This was a breakthrough in the mass production of human insulin. In 1996, modified
human insulin was approved, called the Humalog