Science, Technology and Society

COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT Session

11 2 5
Biodiversity and Healthy Society

 Read course and unit objectives

 Read study guide prior to class attendance
 Read required learning resources; refer to unit
terminologies for jargons
 Proactively participate in classroom discussions
 Participate in weekly discussion board (Canvas)
 Answer and submit course unit tasks

At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:

1. Describe biodiversity and its interrelatedness with the society, environment and health.
2. Identify the three types of biodiversity
3. Critique the impacts of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to society.

Duguet, A. (2003). Article: Ethics in research with vulnerable populations and emerging countries:
The Golden Rice Case. Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulations. Summer.
Volume 38, Issue 4, p979-1013, 35p).
 Biological diversity comprises the variety of all life on earth. It also pertains to the
relative abundance and richness of the different traits, species, and ecosystems in a particular
area or region. The biodiversity we see today is the outcome of over 3.5 billion years of
evolutionary history, shaped by natural processes and increasingly, by the influence of humans.
Biodiversity forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we fully
depend.

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (Earth Summit in Rio de

Janeiro, brazil in 1992), of which Philippines is one of the 154 member countries who signed
the declaration, defines biodiversity as the variability among living organisms from all source,
including inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological
Complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and
of ecosystems. Zamora (1997) defined biodiversity as the ensemble and the interactions of the
genetic, the species, and the ecological diversity in a given place and at a given time.
World Wild Fund for Nature (1989) defined it as the wealth of life on earth, the millions of
plants, animals an microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the intricate ecosystems they
help build into the living environment.

Three Types of Biological Diversity

1. Genetic diversity refers to the variations among the genetic resources of the
organisms. A gene is a unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific
nucleotide sequence in DNA. High genetic diversity indicates populations that
can more easily adapt to changing situations and environments, and also
greater assortment of materials than can be found, increasing the chances of
finding a useful compound (Bernhardt, 1999).

2. Species diversity refers to the variety of different types of species found in a

particular area.

3. Ecosystem/ Ecological diversity refers to the variety of different types of

species found in a particular area. It includes terrestrial, marine and
freshwater ecosystems.
 Ecosystem is the unit of interaction between the biotic community and its
physical environment in a given area. It is a self-contained community of
microorganisms, animals and plants that interact with each other and with
their physical environment.”

Habitat is a place in which a particular species of organism lives.

Importance of Biodiversity

 It supports healthy ecosystems.

 It is an essential part of the solution to climate change
 It is good for the economy.
 It is an integral part of culture and identity.
 It provides raw materials like lumber, food, spices etc.
 It provides opportunities for recreational activities, such as bird watching, scuba
diving, snorkeling, and nature photography.
 It serves as the source of medicine.

What do we get from biodiversity?

1. Oxygen
2. Food
3. Clean Water
4. Medicine
5. Aesthetics
6. Lumber
7. Ideas

Status of Philippine Biodiversity

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 2009) claims

that in terms of biodiversity, the Philippine was 5th in the world as to number of plant
species; 8th in the world list of endemic plants; 4th in endemic birds; 5th in endemic
mammals; and 8th in endemic reptiles.

List of identified endemic species

1. Rafflesia manillana, the world’s largest flower.
2. Vanda sanderiana (waling-waling), one of the world’s largest orchid species.
3. Pithecophaga jefferyi (monkey -eating eagle), the largest bird
4. Rhyncodon typus, the largest fish
5. Tridacna gigas (giant clam), the largest seashell
6. Pandaka pygmea (dwarf goby), the smallest freshwater fish
7. Tarsius syrichta (tarsier), the smallest primate
8. Tragalus nigricans, the smallest hoofed mammal
9. Tylonycteris pachpus (bamboo bat), the smallest bat;
10. Pisidum, the tiniest shell in the world
11. Connus gloriamaris, one of the most expensive shells in the world
12. Cervus alfredi, the most endangered deer
13. Bubalus mindorensis (tamarau or dwarf water buffalo), one of the top ten most
endangered species in the world and the largest endangered animal.

One indication that a species may be endangered is a dwindling in numbers. The

list of endangered species is long and growing. In the 2000 Red List of the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural resources (IUCN), of the 52,177
species in the Philippines, 418 were listed as threatened. The Philippine Biodiversity
Conservation Priority-setting Program (PBCPP) described the 121 endemic mammals
as critically endangered. The Bird Life International listed 116 of species of birds in the
country are threatened or near threatened. According to the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources report (2010), out of 584 wildlife in the country, 72% are already
threatened with extinction. Several species of plants, frogs, reptiles and insects remain
to be documented. Unfortunately, several species were believed to have vanished
without being identified.

Threats to Biodiversity

1. Environmental Pollution
Domestic agriculture and industrial wastes are poorly treated and are often
discharged into the sea, and to other bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes. Pollution
can lead to diseases and pollution stresses, such as coral bleaching on reefs.

2. Over-exploitation/ Over-hunting/ Over-harvesting/ Over-fishing

Commercial logging, community logging, timber poaching, and kaingin (slash and
burn agriculture). In mangrove ecosystem, the extraction of fuel and construction ma
3. Habitat Loss/ Habitat destruction/ Habitat alteration.
In coral reefs, coastal development, aquaculture, agriculture, and land-cover
change increasing sediments and nutrients outflow onto reefs, and the muro-ami fishing
technique. The development of fishponds (aquaculture) in mangrove forest.

4. Climate Change
Drastic changes in the atmosphere can have catastrophic effects such as
increase concentration of greenhouse gases and destruction of forest.
5. Invasive species or Non-native species
Invasive species are greater threat to native biodiversity than pollution, harvest,
and disease combined (Simberloff, 2000). It can cause alterations either within species
groups or within the environment.

Underlying Causes of the Loss of Philippine Biodiversity

The underlying causes of Philippine biodiversity loss are:
a. Population growth and increasing resource consumption
b. Ignorance about species and ecosystems
c. Poorly conceived policies and poor law enforcement
d. Effects of global trading systems
e. Inequity of resource distribution
f. Apathy or failure to account for the value of biodiversity, and

Genetically Modified Organisms

 Worldwide, over 191 million hectares have been planted with genetically modified
crops as of 2018, particularly herbicide and pest-resistant canola, cotton, corn and
soybeans. The United States had the largest area worldwide of GM crops, followed by
Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India (Shahbandeh, 2019).
Fun facts: The first commercially available GM food was called the Flavr Savr
tomato that had an antisense gene that increased its shelf life and delayed ripening
( Bruening and Lyons, 2000). Designed by researchers at Calgene (now a division of
Monsanto, Inc.). Monsanto is the leading company in genetically modified crop based
on revenue.

GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms are organisms whose genetic

material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques, which is a direct
manipulation of an organisms genome. According to the World Health Organization
(WHO,2004) GMOs are organisms, either plant or animal or microorganism in which the
genetic material ( DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by
mating or natural recombination. The development of GMOs was perceived to help in
the advancement of technology for the benefit of humans in different industries like
agriculture and medicine.

Example of Genetically Modified Foods (GMFs)

Bt corn is a variant that has been genetically altered to express more proteins
from Bacillus thuringiensis which produces a bacterial toxin including Delta-toxins.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacterium found in soil that are toxic to some insects
when eaten, but not others. The era of Bt had its beginning in 1901, a Japanese
scientist named Shigeta Ishiwata isolated a bacterium from dead silkworm larvae while
he was investigating the cause of the socalled  " sotto disease . The disease was
responsible for the loss of large numbers of silkworm in Japan. A few years thereafter,
in 1911, A German scientist Ernst Berliner isolated a related strain from dead
Mediterranean flour moth larvae in the German state Thuringia. He named the organism
Bacillus thuringiensis. The bacterium has been used as an insecticide since 1938.
Susceptible insects must ingest Bt toxin in order to be affected. In contrast to poisonous
insecticides that target the nervous system. Bt acts by producing a protein that blocks
the digestive system of the insect, effectively starving it. Bt is a fast-acting insecticide:
an infected insect will stop feeding within hours of ingestion and will die, generally from
starvation or a rupture of the digestive system, within days. The toxin is produced by the
Cry gene found on plasmids in the bacterium. The gene is added to the genomes of
crop plants using a bacterium that forms root nodules in plants (Agrobacterium
tumificiens). One interesting feature of cry genes is their high degree of plasticity. This
particular characteristic may contribute to the versatility of cry toxins as it relates to their
insect host range. In addition, Bt crops produced from 1996 onwards are maize, potato,
cotton and soybean.”

Genetically Modified Organisms are part of a growing industry that is clouded by

controversy, fear and suspicion. With so much uncertainty, this technology must be
evaluated to accurately determine the relationship between GM foods and human
health. For instance, damage from weed infestation destroys crops worldwide.
Cultivating GM crops has provided significant benefits to farmers globally to combat this
problem. Several of the main reasons for generating transgenic crops include increased
nutritional value of crops like maize with improved protein and golden rice fortified with
Vitamin A and Iron. Importantly, GMOs also improved the growth characteristics and
yield of agriculturally valuable crops which often enhanced color and taste, enhanced
production or reduction of enzymes, and prolonged shelf life. With the use of GMO
crops, there will be less use for herbicides/ pesticides, and lower cost for cultivation and
labor. Additionally, it provides crop resistance against insect and viral pests, drought
and herbicides. This could help farmers to reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides,
controlling the purity of the hybrid seeds that ensures higher yields and increase
potential growth and harvest. Despite the promising claims of GMOs, there have been
many controversies and issues whether genetically modified food is less healthy than
non-genetically modified food. Are GM crops Is it safe to eat? Does it pose a threat to
other organisms? A major concern in the use and consumption of GMOs include
promote the development of pesticide resistant pests. Introduction of the GMOs in the
natural environment may cause disruption of the natural communities through
competition interference. There is a potential risk of the modified gene to be transferred
from the GMO crop to its wild relative or organism in the soil. Emergence of new forms
resistance and secondary pests and weed problems might ensue. GM crops express
concerns about allergenicity. Consumption of GMOs may have adverse effects since it
is not naturally or organically produced. It may alter the balance of existing
microorganisms in the body and production of toxins may be detrimental to human
health. Furthermore, GM crop can be both expensive and time consuming since it is
performed in the laboratory. Although the debate about GM food is active. Scientists
and researchers continue to pave the way for GMO- a path that leads to an
unimaginable array of benefits, but also raises extremely important questions.
. Ex situ Conservation
It is the process of protecting species outside of its natural habitat by removing a
species from its threatened habitat and placing it in a new location, like zoological
gardens, aquaria, captive breeding centers, botanical gardens, seed banks and gene
banks, within the care of humans.
In situ Conservation
It is the process of protecting species in its natural habitat, either by establishment and
management of protected areas where the species abound, or by defending the species from
predators.
Dubock, A. (2014). The politics of golden rice. GM crops& Food. Volume 115, issue 3, p 210-222

Study Questions

Research Work. Write an individual research paper on the impacts of GMOs on one of the
following topics:

1. Roundup Ready soybean

2. Golden Rice

3. AquaAdvantage Salmon

4. Bt corn

De Vendomois, J.S, Roullier, F. Celler, D.& Seralini, G.E.A

comparison of the effects of three GM corn varieties on mammalian
health. International journal of biological sciences 5, 706-726
https:doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.5706 (2009)
Hammond, B.G., Dudek, R., Lemen, J.K.& Nemeth, M.A. results of
a 90-day safety assurance study with rats fed grain from corn
borer-protected corn. Food and chemical toxicology: an
international journal published for the British Industrial Biological
research Association, 44, 1092-10099,
https:doi.org/1016/j.fct.2006.01.003(2006)
Szymczyk, B.et.al. results of a 16-week Safety Assurance Study
with Rats Fed Genetically Modified Bt Maize: Effect on Growth and
Health Parameters. Journal of veterinary research 62,555-561,htpps:doi.org/org/10.2478/jvetres-
2018-0060 (2018).
Sharbati, J.et.al Transcriptomic Analysis of Intestinal Tissues from Two 90 Day Feeding Studies in
rats using Genetically modified MON 810 Maize varieties. Front Genet 8,222,
https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2017.00222 (2017)
• https://www.projectaware.org/news/united-biodiversity-together-against-plastic-pollution
• http://www.rainforestweb.org/
• https://www.extinctanimals.org/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinct_animals_of_the_Philippines
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKG89O05K5A
• Shaw, Julie. “Why is biodiversity important?”. Nov. 15,2018. https://www.conservation.org.
• https://www.qsstudy.com/geology/species-diversity
• What is biodiversity?- Definition, Types and Importance. https://byjus.com