MODULE 3: SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you shall have:

1. illustrated your contribution for keeping the biodiversity healthy

2. explained the advantage and potential threats of GMOs
3. identified the different applications of nanotechnology

Lesson 1: BIODIVERSITY AND A

HEALTHY SOCIETY

Biodiversity, the diversity of life on Earth, is essential to the healthy functioning of

ecosystems. Habitat loss and overexploitation, driven by our rapid population growth and
unsustainable consumption patterns, are the primary causes of biodiversity loss which is now
happening up to ten thousand times faster than for millions of years before.

"We are in a bottleneck of overpopulation and wasteful consumption that could push half of
Earth’s species to extinction in this century."
– E.O. Wilson

Page | 65
 In May 2019, the Intergovernmental Science Policy platform on Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Services (IPBES), released its global assessment, identifying the major threats to
biodiversity worldwide. It explicitly noted that human population growth is an indirect driver of
biodiversity loss and stated:
“changes to the direct drivers of nature deterioration cannot be achieved without transformative
change that simultaneously addresses the indirect drivers.”

DIVERSITY IS KEY
Healthy ecosystems,
interdependent webs of living
organisms and their physical
environment are vital to all life on
Earth. Our ecosystems provide us
with clean air, fresh water,
food, resources and medicine. 
Biodiversity, the variation of
life on Earth, is a major factor in
nature's resilience. In a biodiverse
ecosystem, if the environment changes and some organisms can no longer thrive, others can take
their place and fulfill essential functions. It is often the most overlooked species that are the most
important to healthy ecosystems. Insects, for example, play an essential role in pollinating
flowering plants — a third of the food we eat depends on animal pollinators.

THE SIXTH MASS EXTINCTION

Since life appeared on Earth, there have been several mass extinctions in which many
species were wiped out because of catastrophic climate change, volcanic activity, the impact of
an asteroid or other reasons we have not yet discovered.
The plants and animals which currently live on Earth have
continued to evolve over the 65 million years since the last mass
extinction. But many scientists consider the huge reduction in
biodiversity since the emergence of humans is now on the scale of
another mass extinction. This is known as the Anthropocene
extinction or sixth mass extinction.
WWF's latest Living Planet Report estimates that we have
lost 68% of all vertebrate wildlife populations since 1970. That's
more than half of all birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and
fish gone in just 50 years. During that time, our population has
more than doubled, increasing from 3.7 billion to over 7.8 billion today. Invertebrates, while
understudied, aren't faring any better. A German study found that flying insect populations
(including pollinators) have crashed by three-quarters since 1989, reflecting similar trends
around the world.

Page | 66
 In its landmark 2019 report, IPBES reported that one million species are now at risk of
disappearing for good and according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 41% of
amphibians, 25% of mammals, 34% of conifers, 13% of birds, 31% of sharks and rays, 33% of
reef-building corals, and 27% of crustaceans are threatened with extinction.
Some countries are worse off than others. The 2016 State of Nature report concluded that
the United Kingdom was one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
Biodiversity loss is attributable to several causes but by far the biggest culprits are habitat
destruction and overexploitation of species, driven by our exploding numbers and unsustainable
consumption.

HABITAT DESTRUCTION
Ever more people need ever more
space. Damaging human activity
continues to encroach on natural
environments, thereby destroying the
habitats of countless species. As our
numbers rise, cities and industrial areas
are growing and merging into each
other, fragmenting the remaining
habitat and leaving isolated “islands”
of natural populations of plants and
animals too small to
survive. According to IPBES, only one
quarter of land areas and one third of oceans remain relatively undamaged by human activity.

OVEREXPLOITATION
Ever more people need ever more
things. Humankind’s
relentless consumption of
resources such as timber, oil and
minerals is continuing to destroy
natural habitats around the globe. We
are also putting enormous pressure on
populations of wild species, both by
bushmeat hunting in the developing
world and by large-scale industrial
fishing in our seas. Wildlife poaching and trafficking still present a huge threat to many species,
including rhinos, tigers and pangolins.

Page | 67
 AGRICULTURAL
INTENSIFICATION
Ever more people
need ever more food. In order
to meet the unsustainable
consumption patterns of the
developed world and feed the
numbers of people living on
the Earth today, humanity has
developed agricultural
systems which rely on
monocultures, artificial
fertilisers and pesticides.
Monocultures are increasingly
susceptible to disease whilst
widespread pesticide use
destroys insect populations
indiscriminately. In addition,
the growing pressure on food
supplies means an increasing
proportion of agricultural land
is farmed intensively, with fewer off seasons or fallow years in which to recover. Currently,
livestock farming contributes to more climate emissions than the entire transport sector and is the
biggest cause of deforestation. Runoff from farms pollutes water bodies and causes harmful algal
blooms and the collapse of fish stocks.

CLIMATE CHANGE
Ever more people produce ever more climate
emissions. Our planet is on the verge of a climate
crisis due to our endless production of greenhouse
gases including carbon dioxide and methane. We
are headed for a 3-4 °C warmer world by the end of
the century if nations' current climate ambitions are
delivered on. We are already seeing species decline
due to global temperature increase. Every half a
degree of warming has a huge knock-on effect on
ecosystems, with mobile species running out of
areas to migrate to and temperature-
sensitive organisms like corals undergoing massive
die-offs. When keystone species like reef-building
corals disappear, the rich and complex ecosystems
they support collapse as well.

Page | 68
POLLUTION
Ever more people produce ever more waste and
pollution. As populations increase, the disposal of waste
from households, agriculture and industry, becomes an
increasingly serious issue. Our oceans are becoming
choked with plastic waste which is killing millions of
animals, from sea turtles to whales. The Ellen MacArthur
Foundation estimates that by 2050, there will be more
plastic than fish in the sea. As well as affecting the lives
of humans, noise, light and chemical pollution all damage
the health of wild species.

INVASIVE SPECIES
Ever more people mean ever more travel.
Human travel across the world has a very large
emissions footprint but it has also allowed the spread
of invasive species, both accidental and intentional.
As a consequence of the introduction of non-native
species to some areas, such as rabbits and cats in
Australia, goats on St. Helena, and American mink in
Great Britain, we have put many vulnerable
ecosystems at risk, threatening native species and
diminishing biodiversity.

Page | 69
 Name:________________________________________ Score:___________________
Year &Section:_________________________________ Schedule:_______________

MODULE 3
Activity #1
Humans are the stewards of nature. As a student, what can you contribute in
keeping our biodiversity healthy? Illustrate your answer in a poster slogan.

Rubric
CRITERIA EXEMPLARY (10 pts.) GOOD (8 pts.) FAIR (6 pts.) POOR (4 pts.) TOTAL
Creativity include Pleasing use of color Good use of Graphics Little
the designs or shapes, symbols and color and eye- have constructive
presentation styles other graphic catching graphic clustered use of color
elements capture elements. appearances or any
viewers’ attention or are sparse graphic
and interest. (too much elements.
empty space).
Content Complete Information Information Central
presentation of provides supports a purpose is not
relevant and correct reasonable central clearly
information that support for a purpose of identified.
clearly supports a central purpose the topic at Insufficient
central purpose or of the topic. times. Reader supporting
argument and in- Reader gains gains few details and
depth analysis of a some insights. insights. caused
chosen particular confusion to
topic. Reader gains the readers.
important insights.
Overall The output is very The output is The output is The output is
appearance organized, neat and organized, neat, moderately unclear and
easily understood. and understood. organized not easily
and understood.
somewhat
understood.
GRAND TOTAL

Page | 70
 Lesson 2: GENETICALLY
MODIFIED ORGANISMS
(GMOs) AND GENE THERAPY

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Transgenic Crops and Recombinant DNA

Technology

If you could save lives by producing vaccines in transgenic bananas, would you? In the
debate over large-scale commercialization and use of GMOs, where should we draw the line?
People have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for many years using
traditional breeding techniques. Artificial selection for specific, desired traits has resulted in a
variety of different organisms, ranging from sweet corn to hairless cats. But this artificial
selection, in which organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed subsequent
generations, has been limited to naturally occurring variations. In recent decades, however,
advances in the field of genetic engineering have allowed for precise control over the genetic
changes introduced into an organism. Today, we can incorporate new genes from
one species into a completely unrelated species through genetic engineering, optimizing
agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances.
Crop plants, farm animals, and soil bacteria are some of the more prominent examples of
organisms that have been subject to genetic engineering.

Current Use of Genetically Modified Organisms

Agricultural plants are one of the most frequently cited examples of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs). Some benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture are increased crop
yields, reduced costs for food or drug production, reduced need for pesticides, enhanced nutrient
composition and food quality, resistance to pests and disease, greater food security, and medical
benefits to the world's growing population. Advances have also been made in developing crops
that mature faster and tolerate aluminum, boron, salt, drought, frost, and other environmental
stressors, allowing plants to grow in conditions where they might not otherwise flourish (Table

Page | 71
1; Takeda & Matsuoka, 2008). Other applications
include the production of nonprotein (bioplastic)
or nonindustrial (ornamental plant) products. A
number of animals have also been genetically
engineered to increase yield and decrease
susceptibility to disease. For example, salmon
have been engineered to grow larger (Figure 1)
and mature faster (Table 1), and cattle have been
enhanced to exhibit resistance to mad cow disease
(United States Department of Energy, 2007).

Table 1: Examples of GMOs Resulting from Agricultural Biotechnology

Genetically Conferred Trait Example Genetic Change
Organism

APPROVED COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

Herbicide tolerance Soybean Glyphosate herbicide (Roundup)

tolerance conferred by expression of a
glyphosate-tolerant form of the
plant enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-
3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS)
isolated from the soil
bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens,
strain CP4

Insect resistance Corn Resistance to insect pests, specifically

the European corn borer, through
expression of the
insecticidal protein Cry1Ab
from Bacillus thuringiensis

Altered fatty acid composition Canola High laurate levels achieved by

inserting the gene for ACP
thioesterase from the California bay
tree Umbellulariacalifornica

Virus resistance Plum Resistance to plum pox virus

conferred by insertion of a coat protein
(CP) gene from the virus

Page | 72
PRODUCTS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT

Vitamin enrichment Rice Three genes for the manufacture of

beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin
A, in the endosperm of the rice
prevent its removal (from husks)
during milling

Vaccines Tobacco Hepatitis B virus

surface antigen (HBsAg) produced in
transgenic tobacco induces immune
response when injected into mice

Oral vaccines Maize Fusion protein (F) from Newcastle

disease virus (NDV) expressed in corn
seeds induces an immune response
when fed to chickens

Faster maturation Coho salmon A type 1 growth hormone gene

injected into fertilized fish eggs results
in 6.2% retention of the vector at one
year of age, as well as significantly
increased growth rates

The pharmaceutical industry is another frontier for the use of GMOs. In 1986, human
growth hormone was the first protein pharmaceutical made in plants (Barta et al., 1986), and in
1989, the first antibody was produced (Hiatt et al., 1989). Both research groups used tobacco,
which has since dominated the industry as the most intensively studied and utilized plant species
for the expression of foreign genes (Ma et al., 2003). As of 2003, several types of antibodies
produced in plants had made it to clinical trials. The use of genetically modified animals has also
been indispensible in medical research. Transgenic animals are routinely bred to carry human
genes, or mutations in specific genes, thus allowing the study of the progression and genetic
determinants of various diseases.

Potential GMO Applications

Many industries stand to benefit from additional GMO research. For instance, a number
of microorganisms are being considered as future clean fuel producers and biodegraders. In
addition, genetically modified plants may someday be used to produce recombinant vaccines. In
fact, the concept of an oral vaccine expressed in plants (fruits and vegetables) for direct
consumption by individuals is being examined as a possible solution to the spread of disease in
underdeveloped countries, one that would greatly reduce the costs associated with conducting
large-scale vaccination campaigns. Work is currently underway to develop plant-derived vaccine

Page | 73
candidates in potatoes and lettuce for hepatitis B virus (HBV), enterotoxigenic Escherichia
coli (ETEC), and Norwalk virus. Scientists are also looking into the production of other
commercially valuable proteins in plants, such as spider silk protein and polymers that are used
in surgery or tissue replacement (Ma et al., 2003). Genetically modified animals have even been
used to grow transplant tissues and human transplant organs, a concept called
xenotransplantation. The rich variety of uses for GMOs provides a number of valuable benefits
to humans, but many people also worry about potential risks.

Risks and Controversies Surrounding the Use of GMOs

Despite the fact that the genes being transferred occur naturally in other species, there are
unknown consequences to altering the natural state of an organism through foreign gene
expression. After all, such alterations can change the organism's metabolism, growth rate, and/or
response to external environmental factors. These consequences influence not only the GMO
itself, but also the natural environment in which that organism is allowed to proliferate. Potential
health risks to humans include the possibility of exposure to new allergens in genetically
modified foods, as well as the transfer of antibiotic-resistant genes to gut flora.
Horizontal gene transfer of pesticide, herbicide, or antibiotic resistance to other
organisms would not only put humans at risk, but it would also cause ecological imbalances,
allowing previously innocuous plants to grow uncontrolled, thus promoting the spread of disease
among both plants and animals. Although the possibility of horizontal gene transfer between
GMOs and other
organisms cannot be
denied, in reality, this
risk is considered to
be quite low.
Horizontal gene
transfer occurs
naturally at a very low
rate and, in most
cases, cannot be
simulated in an
optimized
laboratory environme
nt without active
modification of the
target genome to
increase susceptibility
(Ma et al., 2003).
In contrast, the alarming consequences of vertical gene transfer between GMOs and their wild-
type counterparts have been highlighted by studying transgenic fish released into wild
populations of the same species (Muir & Howard, 1999). The enhanced mating advantages of the
genetically modified fish led to a reduction in the viability of their offspring. Thus, when a
new transgene is introduced into a wild fish population, it propagates and may eventually
threaten the viability of both the wild-type and the genetically modified organisms.

Page | 74
 Unintended Impacts on Other Species: The Bt
Corn Controversy
One example of public debate over the use
of a genetically modified plant involves the case of
Bt corn. Bt corn expresses a protein from the
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. Prior to
construction of the recombinant corn, the protein
had long been known to be toxic to a number of
pestiferous insects, including the monarch
caterpillar, and it had been successfully used as an
environmentally friendly insecticide for several
years. The benefit of the expression of this protein
by corn plants is a reduction in the amount of
insecticide that farmers must apply to their crops. Unfortunately, seeds containing genes for
recombinant proteins can cause unintentional spread of recombinant genes or exposure of non-
target organisms to new toxic compounds in the environment.
The now-famous Bt corn controversy started with a laboratory study by Losey et al.
(1999) in which the mortality of monarch larvae was reportedly higher when fed with milkweed
(their natural food supply) covered in pollen from transgenic corn than when fed milkweed
covered with pollen from regular corn. The report by Losey et al. was followed by another
publication (Jesse &Obrycki, 2000) suggesting that natural levels of Bt corn pollen in the field
were harmful to monarchs.
Debate ensued when scientists from other laboratories disputed the study, citing the
extremely high concentration of pollen used in the laboratory study as unrealistic, and
concluding that migratory patterns of monarchs do not place them in the vicinity of corn during
the time it sheds pollen. For the next two years, six teams of researchers from government,
academia, and industry investigated the issue and concluded that the risk of Bt corn to monarchs
was "very low" (Sears et al., 2001), providing the basis for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency to approve Bt corn for an additional seven years.

Unintended Economic Consequences

Another concern associated with GMOs is
that private companies will claim ownership of
the organisms they create and not share them at a
reasonable cost with the public. If these claims
are correct, it is argued that use of genetically
modified crops will hurt the economy and
environment, because monoculture practices by
large-scale farm production centers (who can
afford the costly seeds) will dominate over the
diversity contributed by small farmers who can't
afford the technology. However, a recent meta-
analysis of 15 studies reveals that, on average,
two-thirds of the benefits of first-generation
genetically modified crops are shared downstream, whereas only one-third accrues upstream
(Demont et al., 2007). These benefit shares are exhibited in both industrial and developing

Page | 75
countries. Therefore, the argument that private companies will not share ownership of GMOs is
not supported by evidence from first-generation genetically modified crops.

GMOs and the General Public: Philosophical

and Religious Concerns
In a 2007 survey of 1,000 American adults
conducted by the International Food Information
Council (IFIC), 33% of respondents believed that
biotech food products would benefit them or their
families, but 23% of respondents did not know
biotech foods had already reached the market. In
addition, only 5% of those polled said they would
take action by altering their purchasing habits as a
result of concerns associated with using biotech
products.

According to the Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations, public acceptance trends in Europe and Asia are mixed
depending on the country and current mood at the time of the survey (Hoban, 2004). Attitudes
toward cloning, biotechnology, and genetically modified products differ depending upon
people's level of education and interpretations of what each of these terms mean. Support varies
for different types of biotechnology; however, it is consistently lower when animals are
mentioned.

Furthermore, even if the technologies are shared fairly, there are people who would still
resist consumable GMOs, even with thorough testing for safety, because of personal or religious
beliefs. The ethical issues surrounding GMOs include debate over our right to "play God," as
well as the introduction of foreign material into foods that are abstained from for religious
reasons. Some people believe that tampering with nature is intrinsically wrong, and others
maintain that inserting plant genes in animals, or vice versa, is immoral. When it comes to
genetically modified foods, those who feel strongly that the development of GMOs is against
nature or religion have called for clear labeling rules so they can make informed selections when
choosing which items to purchase. Respect for consumer choice and assumed risk is as important
as having safeguards to prevent mixing of genetically modified products with non-genetically
modified foods. In order to determine the requirements for such safeguards, there must be a
definitive assessment of what constitutes a GMO and universal agreement on how products
should be labeled.

These issues are increasingly important to consider as the number of GMOs continues to
increase due to improved laboratory techniques and tools for sequencing whole genomes, better
processes for cloning and transferring genes, and improved understanding of gene expression
systems. Thus, legislative practices that regulate this research have to keep pace. Prior to
permitting commercial use of GMOs, governments perform risk assessments to determine the
possible consequences of their use, but difficulties in estimating the impact of commercial GMO
use makes regulation of these organisms a challenge.

Page | 76
History of International Regulations for GMO Research and Development

In 1971, the first debate over the risks to humans of exposure to GMOs began when a
common intestinal microorganism, E. coli, was infected with DNA from a tumor-inducing virus
(Devos et al., 2007). Initially, safety issues were a concern to individuals working in laboratories
with GMOs, as well as nearby residents. However, later debate arose over concerns that
recombinant organisms might be used as weapons. The growing debate, initially restricted to
scientists, eventually spread to the public, and in 1974, the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
established the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee to begin to address some of these issues.
In the 1980s, when deliberate releases of GMOs to the environment were beginning to occur, the
U.S. had very few regulations in place. Adherence to the guidelines provided by the NIH was
voluntary for industry. Also during the 1980s, the use of transgenic plants was becoming a
valuable endeavor for production of new pharmaceuticals, and individual companies,
institutions, and whole countries were beginning to view biotechnology as a lucrative means of
making money (Devos et al., 2007). Worldwide commercialization of biotech products sparked
new debate over the patentability of living organisms, the adverse effects of exposure to
recombinant proteins, confidentiality issues, the morality and credibility of scientists, the role of

Page | 77
government in regulating science, and other issues. In the U.S., the Congressional Office of
Technology Assessment initiatives were developed, and they were eventually adopted worldwide
as a top-down approach to advising policymakers by forecasting the societal impacts of GMOs.
Then, in 1986, a publication by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD), called "Recombinant DNA Safety Considerations," became the first intergovernmental
document to address issues surrounding the use of GMOs. This document recommended that risk
assessments be performed on a case-by-case basis. Since then, the case-by-case approach to risk
assessment for genetically modified products has been widely accepted; however, the U.S. has
generally taken a product-based approach to assessment, whereas the European approach is more
process based (Devos et al., 2007). Although in the past, thorough regulation was lacking in
many countries, governments worldwide are now meeting the demands of the public and
implementing stricter testing and labeling requirements for genetically modified crops.

Increased Research and Improved Safety Go Hand in Hand

Proponents of the use of GMOs believe that, with adequate research, these organisms can
be safely commercialized. There are many experimental variations for expression and control of
engineered genes that can be applied to minimize potential risks. Some of these practices are
already necessary as a result of new legislation, such as avoiding superfluous DNA transfer
(vector sequences) and replacing selectable marker genes commonly used in the lab (antibiotic
resistance) with innocuous plant-derived markers (Ma et al., 2003). Issues such as the risk of
vaccine-expressing plants being mixed in with normal foodstuffs might be overcome by having
built-in identification factors, such as pigmentation, that facilitate monitoring and separation of
genetically modified products from non-GMOs. Other built-in control techniques include having
inducible promoters (e.g., induced by stress, chemicals, etc.), geographic isolation, using male-
sterile plants, and separate growing seasons.
GMOs benefit mankind when used for purposes such as increasing the availability and
quality of food and medical care, and contributing to a cleaner environment. If used wisely, they
could result in an improved economy without doing more harm than good, and they could also
make the most of their potential to alleviate hunger and disease worldwide. However, the full
potential of GMOs cannot be realized without due diligence and thorough attention to the risks
associated with each new GMO on a case-by-case basis.

What Is Gene Therapy? How Does It Work?

The genes in your body’s
cells play an important role in your
health — indeed, a defective gene
or genes can make you sick.
Recognizing this, scientists
have been working for decades on
ways to modify genes or replace
faulty genes with healthy ones to
treat, cure or prevent a disease or
medical condition.
Now this research on gene
therapy is finally paying off. Since August 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has
approved three gene therapy products, the first of their kind.
Page | 78
 Two of them reprogram a patient’s own cells to attack a deadly cancer, and the most
recent approved product targets a disease caused by mutations in a specific gene.

What Are Cells and Genes? How Do They Interact?

What is the relationship between cells and genes?

Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things; the human body is composed of
trillions of them. Within our cells there are thousands of genes that provide the information for
the production of specific proteins and enzymes that make muscles, bones, and blood, which in
turn support most of our body’s functions, such as digestion, making energy, and growing.

How Gene Therapy Works

Gene therapy can be performed both inside and
outside the body.
Sometimes the whole or part of a gene is defective or
missing from birth or a gene can change or mutate during
adult life. Any of these variations can disrupt how proteins are
made, which can contribute to health problems or diseases.
In gene therapy, scientists can do one of several things
depending on the problem that is present. They can replace a
gene that causes a medical problem with one that doesn’t, add
genes to help the body to fight or treat disease, or turn off
genes that are causing problems.
In order to insert new genes directly into cells,
scientists use a vehicle called a “vector” which is genetically
engineered to deliver the gene.

Page | 79
 Viruses, for example, have a natural ability to deliver genetic material into cells, and
therefore, can be used as vectors. Before a virus can be used to carry therapeutic genes into
human cells, however, it is modified to remove its ability to cause an infectious disease.

Gene therapy can be used to modify cells inside or outside the body. When it’s done
inside the body, a doctor will inject the vector carrying the gene directly into the part of the body
that has defective cells.

In gene therapy that is used to modify cells outside of the body, blood, bone marrow, or
another tissue can be taken from a patient, and specific types of cells can be separated out in the
lab. The vector containing the desired gene is introduced into these cells. The cells are left, to
multiply in the laboratory, and are then injected back into the patient, where they continue to
multiply and eventually produce the desired effect.

Before a Gene Therapy Can Go On the Market …

Before a company can market a gene therapy product for use in humans, the gene therapy
product has to be tested for safety and effectiveness so that FDA scientists can consider whether
the risks of the therapy are acceptable in light of the benefits.

Gene therapy holds the promise to transform medicine and create options for patients
who are living with difficult, and even incurable, diseases. As scientists continue to make great
strides in this therapy, FDA is committed to helping speed up development by prompt review of
groundbreaking treatments that have the potential to save lives.

Page | 80
Name:_________________________________________ Score:_______________
Schedule:___________________________ Date:________________

MODULE 3
Activity #2

Essay. In your own opinion, should GMOs be completely accepted in the society?
Will it benefit us humans or will it do more harm to us?

Rubrics

CATEGORY 10 8 6 4 Score

Grammar & Author makes Author makes 1- Author makes 3-4 Author makes
Spelling no errors in 2 errors in errors in grammar more than 4
grammar or grammar or or spelling that errors in
spelling that spelling that distract the reader grammar or
distract the distract the from the content. spelling that
reader from the reader from the distract the
content. content. reader from the
content.
Words/ideas All words/ One word/ideas Two words/ideas Three
ideas are related is not related to are not related to words/ideas are
to personality personality personality not related to
personality
Content Substantial, Sufficiently Limited content Superficial
specific, and/or developed with in adequate and/or minimal
illustrative content with elaboration or content.
content adequate explanation.
demonstrating elaboration or
strong explanation.
development
and
sophisticated
ideas.

Page | 81
 Lesson 3:
NANOTECHNOLOGY

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale,

which is about 1 to 100 nanometers.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things
and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials
science, and engineering.

How it Started

The ideas and

concepts behind nanoscience
and nanotechnology started
with a talk entitled “There’s
Plenty of Room at the
Bottom” by physicist Richard
Feynman at an American
Physical Society meeting at
the California Institute of
Technology (CalTech) on
December 29, 1959, long
before the term
nanotechnology was used. In
his talk, Feynman described a

Page | 82
process in which scientists would be able to manipulate and control individual atoms and
molecules. Over a decade later, in his explorations of ultraprecision machining, Professor Norio
Taniguchi coined the term nanotechnology. It wasn't until 1981, with the development of the
scanning tunneling microscope that could "see" individual atoms that modern nanotechnology
began.

Fundamental Concepts in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

It’s hard to imagine just how small nanotechnology is. One nanometer is a billionth of a meter,
or 10-9 of a meter. Here are a few illustrative examples:

 There are 25,400,000 nanometers in an inch

 A sheet of newspaper is about 100,000 nanometers thick
 On a comparative scale, if a marble were a nanometer, then one meter would be the size
of the Earth

Nanoscience and nanotechnology involve the ability to see and to control individual atoms
and molecules. Everything on Earth is made up of atoms—the food we eat, the clothes we wear,
the buildings and houses we live in, and our own bodies.

But something as small as an atom is impossible to see with the naked eye. In fact, it’s
impossible to see with the microscopes typically used in a high school science classes. The
microscopes needed to see things at the nanoscale were invented in the early 1980s.

Once scientists had the right tools, such as the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and the
atomic force microscope (AFM), the age of nanotechnology was born.

Although modern nanoscience and nanotechnology are quite new, nanoscale

materials were used for centuries. Alternate-sized gold and silver particles created colors in the
stained glass windows of medieval churches hundreds of years ago. The artists back then just
didn’t know that the process they used to create these beautiful works of art actually led to
changes in the composition of the materials they were working with.

Today's scientists and engineers are finding a wide variety of ways to deliberately make

materials at the nanoscale to take advantage of their enhanced properties such as higher strength,
lighter weight, increased control of light spectrum, and greater chemical reactivity than
their larger-scale counterparts.

Page | 83
Nanotechnology: a small solution to big problems

Invisible particles that

fight cancer cells, faster
microprocessors that consume
less energy, batteries that last 10
times longer or solar panels that
yield twice as much energy.
These are just some of the many
applications of nanotechnology,
a discipline with all the
ingredients to turn into the next
industrial revolution.
Nanotechnology
modifies the molecular structure of materials to create smart objects.
Nanotechnology and its microscopic universe offer gigantic possibilities for
contemporary science and industry. This field, which flourished between the 60s and 80s, has
surged in the last two decades with a booming global market whose value will exceed 125,000
million dollars in the next five years according to the Global Nanotechnology Market (by
Component and Applications) report by Research & Markets which presents forecasts for 2024.

WHAT IS NANOTECHNOLOGY?

This technological branch manipulates the molecular structure of materials to change

their intrinsic properties and obtain others with revolutionary applications. This is the case of
graphene — modified carbon harder than steel, lighter than aluminium and almost transparent —
or nanoparticles used in areas such as electronics, energy, biomedicine or defence.
In 1959 the American Nobel prize and physicist Richard Feynman was the first to speak
about the applications of nanotechnology at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
With the 21st century, this area consolidated, was marketed and came into its own. It includes
other areas such as micro-manufacturing, organic chemistry and molecular biology. In the United
States alone, for example, more than 18 billion dollars were invested between 2001 and 2013
through the NNI (National Nanotechnology Initiative) to turn this sector into a driver of
economic growth and competitiveness.

Page | 84
 TYPES OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

The different types of nanotechnology are classified according to how they proceed (top-down or
bottom-up) and the medium in which they work (dry or wet):

 Descending (top-down)
Mechanisms and structures are miniaturised at the nanometric scale — from one to 100
nanometres in size —. It is the most frequent to date, especially in electronics.

 Ascending (bottom-up)
You start with a nanometric structure — a molecule, for example — and through a mounting
or self-assembly process you create a larger mechanism than the one you started with.

 Dry nanotechnolgy
It is used to manufacture structures in coal, silicon, inorganic materials, metals
and semiconductors that do not work with humidity.

Page | 85
  Wet nanotechnology
It is based on biological systems present in an aqueous environment — including genetic
material, membranes, enzymes and other cellular components —.

EXAMPLES AND
APPLICATIONS OF

NANOTECHNOLGY
Nanotechnology and nanomaterials can be applied in all kinds of industrial sectors. They are
usually found in these areas:

 Electronics
Carbon nanotubes are close to replacing silicon as a material for making smaller, faster and more
efficient microchips and devices, as well as lighter, more conductive and stronger quantum
nanowires. Graphene's properties make it an ideal candidate for the development of flexible
touchscreens.
   Energy
A new semiconductor developed by Kyoto University makes it possible to manufacture solar
panels that double the amount of sunlight converted into electricity. Nanotechnology also lowers
costs, produces stronger and lighter wind turbines, improves fuel efficiency and, thanks to the
thermal insulation of some nanocomponents, can save energy.
   Biomedicine
The properties of some nanomaterials make them ideal for improving early diagnosis and
treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or cancer. They are able to attack cancer cells
selectively without harming other healthy cells. Some nanoparticles have also been used to
enhance pharmaceutical products such as sunscreen.
  Environment
Air purification with ions, wastewater purification with nanobubbles or nanofiltration systems
for heavy metals are some of its environmentally-friendly applications. Nanocatalysts are also
available to make chemical reactions more efficient and less polluting.
  Food
In this field, nanobiosensors could be used to detect the presence of pathogens in food or
nanocomposites to improve food production by increasing mechanical and thermal resistance
and decreasing oxygen transfer in packaged products.
  Textile
Nanotechnology makes it possible to develop smart fabrics that don't stain nor wrinkle, as well as
stronger, lighter and more durable materials to make motorcycle helmets or sports equipment.

Page | 86
NANOTECHNOLGY IN THE FUTURE
There are bright and dark spots in the future of nanotechnology. On the one hand, the
sector is expected to grow globally, driven by technological advances, increased government
support, increased private investment and growing demand for smaller devices, to name a few.
However, the environmental, health and safety risks of nanotechnology and concerns related to
its commercialisation could hamper market expansion.
The United States, Brazil and Germany will lead the nanotechnology industry in
2024, with an important presence in the Top 15 Asian countries such as Japan, China, South
Korea, India, Taiwan and Malaysia. The cosmetics sector will climb positions stealing third
place from the biomedical sector in a ranking that will be led by electronics and energy, as it is
now.

Name:_____________________________________________ Score:_______________
Schedule:_________________________ Date:________________

MODULE 3
Activity #3

Essay. As a student, is there a direct help of nanotechnology to you? Explain. If

there is not, what do you think is the reason why nanotechnology is not present
in your day-to-day life?

Rubrics

CATEGORY 10 8 6 4 Score

Grammar & Author makes Author makes 1- Author makes 3-4 Author makes
Spelling no errors in 2 errors in errors in grammar more than 4
grammar or grammar or or spelling that errors in
spelling that spelling that distract the reader grammar or
distract the distract the from the content. spelling that
reader from the reader from the distract the
content. content. reader from the
content.
Words/ideas All words/ One word/ideas Two words/ideas Three
ideas are related is not related to are not related to words/ideas are
to personality personality personality not related to
personality
Content Substantial, Sufficiently Limited content Superficial

Page | 87
 specific, and/or developed with in adequate and/or minimal
illustrative content with elaboration or content.
content adequate explanation.
demonstrating elaboration or
strong explanation.
development
and
sophisticated
ideas.

Resources:
https://www.iberdrola.com/innovation/nanotechnology-applications
https://populationmatters.org/the-facts/biodiversity?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj-
P36PCV7gIVCXmLCh3N4Q5jEAAYASAAEgLqRPD_BwE
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-gene-therapy-how-does-it-work
https://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition

Page | 88