Let’s Check

Activity 9 . Now, that you know the essential concepts and terms in the study of
applications and effects of biotechnology and biodiversity to the society. Let‘s try
to check your understanding on these concepts. Identify what is being asked in
the following questions below:
GENETIC MODIFICATION 1. When a scientist is identifying a trait from an
organism and used them to develop an specialized
trait of a crop. What is this processed called?

RECOMBINANT GENE TECHNOLOGY 2. In reference to item number 1, what

biological systems/ technology is used by the
scientist to modify the trait?

CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY 3. What do you call to the strict

compliance to be implemented prior to the
transportation and distribution of living modified
organisms?

GENETIC ENGINEERING 4. It is a process that aims to address issues with regard

to food security, for agriculture, drug production and
even for nutrition.
GENETIC MODIFICATION 5. It is a process done to plants, animals, or to
microorganism whose genetic makeup has been
modified using recombinant DNA methods.

BIOTECHNOLOGY 6. Development of vaccines for medicines, injected

hormonal application to poultry industry, treatment for water supplies and etc.
are examples of ______.

2010 International Year of Biodiversity 7. It has the focus on boosting

awareness of biodiversity‘s importance by
promoting actions to foster biodiversity.

GENETIC ENGINEERING 8. An extraction of DNA from a certain organism

with a desired trait has been inserted to unrelated species.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS 9. These are also known as

transgenic organisms.

CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY 10. A measure that assures safety

and mitigates possible adverse effect to the
environment when not followed.
Let’s Analyze

Activity 9. Getting acquainted with the concepts in biotechnology and

biodiversity, it matters that you understand their relevance in the society. Thus,
you are required to explain briefly the following questions:

1. What role does the environment play in addressing the needs of a

society?

All materials to satisfy needs, beginning with oxygen, shelter, food, water, all come
from the environment. The environment is in fact the support system for life. The
environment provides services to society through the ecosystems. Ecosystem
services are defined as the benefits people derive from ecosystems – supporting the
sustainable human well-being ecosystems provide, such as drinking water sources,
waterways, timber, weather, and storm protection from forests, grasslands,
agricultural fertility, human waste decomposition, etc. They are mostly not
monetizable and tradable and our economic valuation methods are inadequate for
weighing ecosystem services properly in the long term.

So if you trash, pollute and destroy the environment, you eventually trash your life
support and you live in truly desperate circumstances or die (unless you are really
rich and can leave the planet or successfully build and support your own artificial
system and you don’t mind everyone else having problems).

2. How can people maintain the rich biodiversity in nature?

We can participate in conserving biodiversity by enhancing our knowledge of

environmental issues, raising awareness of the impacts of loss of biodiversity, and
increasing support for government policies and actions that preserve our valuable
ecosystems. We can become educators and role models as environmental stewards
by helping in the recovery of endangered species and by preventing other species
from becoming at risk.

Aside from educating ourselves, since consumption of resources is a root cause of

biodiversity loss, we can consume less and be more mindful about what we
consume. We need to leverage our purchasing power to help protect biodiversity by
consuming products that do not harm the environment. Ecolabels enable consumers
to determine which products are green, safe, and environmentally sustainable. This
includes consuming products that are reusable like instead of plastic straws, we can
use metal or bamboo straws – that are heavily available today in effort to eradicate
more plastics.

3. In your own words, how is an organism‘s genome manipulated?

In my own opinion, an organism’s genome is manipulated when it no longer

functions like the way it supposed to be, or like how nature wanted it to be. When
it is controlled by humans to perform what humans want it to perform, or produce
traits that humans want or desire.

4. What are the pros and cons of genetically modifying crops?

Pros:

Manufacturers use genetic modification to give foods desirable traits. For

example, they have designed two new varieties of apple that turn less brown
when cut or bruised. The reasoning usually involves making crops more resistant
to diseases as they grow. Manufacturers also engineer produce to be more
nutritious or tolerant of herbicides. Crop protection is one of the main rationale
behind this type of genetic modification. Plants that are more resistant to
diseases spread by insects or viruses result in higher yields for farmers and a
more attractive product. In addition, genetic modification can also increase
nutritional value or enhance flavor. All of these factors contribute to lower costs
for the consumer. They can also ensure that more people have access to quality
food.

Cons:

Because genetically engineering foods is a relatively new practice, little is known

about the long-term effects and safety. There are many purported downsides, but the
evidence varies, and the main health issues associated with GMO foods are hotly
debated. Research is still, ongoing.

Allergic reactions

Some people believe that GMO foods have more potential to trigger allergic
reactions. This is because they may contain genes from an allergen — a food
that prompts an allergic reaction. The World Health Organization (WHO)
discourage genetic engineers from using DNA from allergens unless they can
prove that the gene itself does not cause the problem.

Cancer

Some researchers believe that eating GMO foods can contribute to the
development of cancer. They argue that because the disease is caused by
mutations in DNA, it is dangerous to introduce new genes into the body.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) have said that there is no evidence for this.
However, they note that no evidence of harm is not the same as proof of safety
and that reaching a conclusion will require more research.

Antibacterial resistance
There is concern that genetic modification, which can boost a crop’s resistance to
disease or make it more tolerant to herbicides, could affect the ability of people to
defend against illness.

There is a small chance that the genes in food can transfer to cells the body or
bacteria in the gut. Some GMO plants contain genes that make them resistant to
certain antibiotics. This resistance could pass on to humans. There is growing
concern globally that people are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
There is a chance that GMO foods could be contributing to this crisis. The WHO
have said that the risk of gene transfer is low. As a precaution, however, it has
set guidelines for the manufacturers of GMO foods.

Outcrossing

Outcrossing refers to the risk of genes from certain GMO plants mixing with
those of conventional crops. There have been reports of low levels of GMO crops
approved as animal feed or for industrial use being found in food meant for
human consumption.

5. Will you eat GMOs? Why or why not?

The Philippines was the first in Asia to approve commercial cultivation of a GM

crop for animal feed and food in 2002 when it allowed GM corn planting. It has
also allowed GM crop imports for more than a decade. Around 70 percent of its
corn output is GM, which means that many of the foods I eat likely contain
GMOs. I will still eat them though, because even though GMO’s critics argue the
technology poses risks to public health, such fears have not been scientifically
proven and that high-yielding genetically altered crops would also help ensure
food security as the world’s population grows.
In a Nutshell

Activity 9. Based from the definition of essential terms and concepts in

biodiversity and biotechnology and from the exercises you‘ve done, please feel
free to write your arguments and lessons you‘ve learned below.

1. Biotechnology has helped improve the quality of people’s lives for over
10,000 years. Current biotechnology has opened doors for many applications
such as agriculture, therapeutics, diagnostics, waste treatment, food
processing, bioremediation, and energy production. It is practically used as
much as we can to create advantages in our lives and to benefit society.

2. There is no doubt that biotechnology provides some great advantages,

especially in the field of agriculture, however, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t
have different issues to consider. Surprisingly, it can also provide harm to
agriculture as much as it does on providing advantages. Biotechnology may
have flourished a lot in the last decade, but there are plenty of things that are
still unknown.

3. Biotechnologies today vary in complexity and application. Yet all of them have
the potential to change our society. While the intention behind biotechnologies
is to benefit our society, determining what impact such as the harm that it can
do to human health, a particular biotechnology may have, for me, is still, too
complex.