BIODIVERSITY AND THE The debate about genetically modified
When did the concept of
HEALTHY SOCIETY
1. What are genetically modified
organisms (GMOs)?
Genetically modified organisms are plants
and animals that have been altered in a
laboratory to have new genetic makeup.
Scientists incorporate genes from other
organisms to achieve new characteristics that
are not inherent to the plants and animals
being modified.
2. How do genetically modified
organisms work?
GMO scientists directly edit plants and
animals' genetic codes by inserting genes
that carry the characteristics being sought.
The genes being introduced into one species
can come from a completely unrelated
species, depending on the traits scientists are
trying to create.
3. What are the types of
genetically modified
organisms?
The common types of genetically engineered
crops are insect-resistant (Bt) crops and
herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops. Bt crops
contain genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
bacteria and produce insecticidal proteins. HT
crops are tolerant to herbicides that farmers
use to control weeds.
4. What are the risks of genetically
modified organisms?
The main concerns of GMO critics are allergic
reactions, the possibility of transferred genes
in foods entering human cells and having a
negative effect, and outcrossing or genes
from GMOs finding their way into
conventional crops. Other concerns include
farming practices that their use encourages
and their impact on the environment.
5. What is the prevalence of
genetically modified
organisms?
The number of acres growing Bt crops and
HT crops in the United States has increased
dramatically since the mid-1990s. HT cotton
accounted for 10% of planted acres in 1997
but increased to 95% by 2019, while Bt cotton
increased from 15% of cotton acreage in
1997 to 89% in 2020.
6. What are the criticisms of
genetically modified
organisms?
2.
organisms is ongoing, both culturally and
politically. Proponents say that the uses of
GMOs improve the food supply by increasing
or accelerating food production. Opponents
say that the risks to both humans and the
environment outweigh these benefits.
7. Who regulates genetically
modified organisms in the
United States?
In the U.S., GMOs are regulated by the FDA,
the USDA, and the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
8. What are the benefits of
genetically modified
organisms?
Genetic engineering is often done to achieve
a trait not typically held by an organism, such
as longer shelf life, disease resistance, or
different colors or flavors. This has led to
various new crops, such as rice cultivars that
are resistant to drought or wheat cultivars that
have a much higher yield.
9. What are the dangers of
genetically modified
organisms?
GMOs' dangers and benefits are widely
debated, but the main concerns of GMO
critics are allergic reactions, the possibility of
transferred genes in foods entering human
cells and having a negative effect, and
outcrossing or genes from GMOs finding their
way into conventional crops. Other concerns
include farming practices that their use
encourages and their impact on the
environment.
10. What are some examples of
genetically modified
organisms?
A well-known example of GMO food is
Roundup Ready corn, a variety of corn
created by Monsanto Company resistant to
the herbicide glyphosate. Other genetically
modified crops include soy, alfalfa, canola,
cotton, and sorghum. Genetically modified
animals, such as AquAdvantage salmon,
have also been developed.
THE NANO WORLD
1. What is nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology refers to the
science, engineering, and
technology conducted at the
nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100
nanometers.
nanotechnology and
nanoscience start?
The concepts of nanotechnology
and nanoscience started on
December 29, 1959, when
physicist Richard Feynman
discussed a method in which
scientists can direct and control an
individual’s atoms and molecules
in his talk “There’s plenty of room
at the Bottom” during the
American Physical Society
meeting at California Institute of
Technology.
3. How small is a nanoscale?
A nanometer is a billionth of a
meter or 10-9 of a meter.
4. What are the different types of
nanomaterials?
The various types of
nanomaterials are classified
according to their individual sizes
and shapes. They may be
particles, tubes, wires, films,
flakes, or shells with one or more
nanometer-sized dimensions.
5. What are the ways on how
nanotechnology impacts human
lives?
Nanotechnology impacts human
lives in various ways, such as:
 Faster, smaller, and more powerful
computers that consume far less
power, with longer-lasting
batteries.
 Nanoparticles in pharmaceutical
products improve their absorption
within the body and make them
easier to deliver, often through
combination medical devices.
Nanoparticles can also be used to
deliver chemotherapy drugs to
specific cells, such as cancer cells.
 Improved vehicle fuel efficiency
and corrosion resistance by
building vehicle parts from
nanocomposite materials that are
lighter, stronger, and more
chemically resistant than metal.
Nano filters remove nearly all
airborne particles from the air
before it reaches the combustion
chamber, further improving gas
mileage.
 Nanoparticles or nanofibers in
fabrics can enhance stain
resistance, water resistance, and
flame resistance without a
significant increase in weight,
thickness, stiffness of the fabric.
For example, “nanowhiskers” on
pants make them resistant to
water and stains.
 Water filters that are only 15-20
nanometers wide can remove
nano-sized particles, including
virtually all viruses and bacteria.
These cost-efficient, portable
water treatment systems are ideal
for improving the quality of
drinking water in emerging
countries.
 Carbon nanotubes have a variety
of commercial uses, including
making sports equipment stronger
and lighter weight. For example, a
tennis racket made with carbon
nanotubes bends less during
impact and increases the force
and accuracy of the delivery.
Nanoparticle-treated tennis balls
can keep bouncing twice as long
as standard tennis balls.
6. What are the major impacts of
nanotechnology on society?
Nanotechnology brings profound
impact to different areas of
society. It is going to revolutionize
manufacturing, healthcare, energy,
supply, communication, and
probably defense. There will also
be a transformation to labor, the
workplace, medical system,
transportation, power
infrastructure, and military, and all
of these would have a social
disruption. However,
nanotechnology's negative
impact is that it will exacerbate
society's existing problem in which
socio-economic is a concern for
the inequity and unequal
distribution of power between the
rich and the poor, causing division.
Civil liberties will also be affected
due to the potential of
nanotechnology to destabilize
international relations through
nano arms, race, and the
increased potential for bio
weaponry which provides the tool
for ubiquitous surveillance that will
significantly affect civil liberties.
There is also a possibility of
applying nanotechnology to the
military through soldier
enhancements and chemical
weapon manufacturing. Molecular
manufacturing might be used to
cheaply produce highly advanced
and durable weapons equipped
with compact computers and
motors.
GENE THERAPHY (STEM CELLS)
 What are genes?
Genes are the building blocks of
our physical make-up and the
basic unit of our inheritance.
 What are chromosomes?
Chromosomes are structures
where genes are arranged, one
after another.
 How many genes do humans
have?
Humans have approximately
20,000 genes arranged on their
chromosomes.
 What is gene therapy?
Gene therapy is an experimental
procedure that uses genes to treat
or prevent disease.
 What are the approaches to
gene therapy?
The approaches to gene therapy
include replacing a mutated gene
that causes disease with a healthy
copy of the gene, inactivating a
mutated gene that is functioning
improperly, and introducing a new
gene into the body to help fight a
disease.
 What is a vector in gene
therapy?
A vector is a vehicle that is
genetically engineered to transport
the gene into cells.
 What are the two types of gene
therapy?
The two types of gene therapy are
somatic gene therapy and
germline gene therapy.
 What is somatic gene therapy?
Somatic gene therapy is the
transfer of a section of DNA to any
cell of the body that doesn’t
produce sperm or eggs.
 What is germline gene therapy?
Germline gene therapy is the
transfer of a section of DNA to
cells that produce eggs or sperm.
 What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cell therapy is the transfer of
cells into a patient in order to
improve or even cure a disease.
 What is the origin of the
transplanted cells in cell
therapy?
The origin of the transplanted cells
depends on the treatment, but
they are often a type of adult or
fetal stem cell that can divide and
regenerate and provide cells that
mature into the tissue's relevant
specialized cells.
 How are gene therapy and cell
therapy related?
Both gene therapy and cell
therapy have the potential to treat
the underlying cause of both
genetic and acquired diseases by
replacing the missing proteins or
cells, and they may suppress the
expression of proteins that are
toxic to cells. However, gene
therapy involves the transfer of
genetic material, while cell therapy
is the transfer of cells to a patient.
 There is concern about the
potential for inadvertently (or
purposely) altering the genetic
composition of germ cells, thereby
resulting in germline transmission
of a gene therapy vector to the
treated patient's progeny.
 The use of human fetal tissue for
stem cell isolation raises ethical
concerns about abortion and fetal
tissue experimentation.
 Clinical trials of gene and stem cell
therapies should be based on a
solid foundation of basic scientific
and animal experimentation and
carried out with the highest
medical and ethical standards.
 Vigorous and open ethical debates
based on scientific and medical
facts and timely and honest
communication between
physicians, patients, and the
public are essential to realizing the
full potential of these therapeutic
approaches.