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Biotechnology
Quarter 4 – Module 4
Applications of Biotechnology in
Agriculture
(Week 4)

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Biotechnology – Grade 8 Science Elective
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 4 – Module 4: Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture First
Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Writer: Jade Cantillas Bacon

Management Team

Schools Division Superintendent: Dr. Marilyn S. Andales

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent: Dr. Dr. Fay C. Luarez

Dr. Anelito A. Bongcawil
Dr. Lorenzo M. Dizon

Chief, CID: Dr. Mary Ann P. Flores

EPS in LRMS: Dr. Isaiash T. Wagas
EPS in Science Mrs. Juvimar E. Montolo

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

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Department of Education, Region VII, Division of Cebu Province
Office Address: IPHO Bldg, Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City
Telefax: (03) 255-6405
Email Address: cebu.province@deped.gov.ph

Most Essential Learning Competency: Describe the

applications of biotechnology in agriculture.

What I Need to Know

In this lesson the learner

1. will be able to describe the benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture

2. will be able to demonstrate understanding on possible risks associated
with using transgenic crops in agriculture
3. will be able to evaluate impacts of genetic engineering especially on
genetically modified foods

The Philippine population is projected to reach 142 million by 2045. This

signifies about 49 million persons added to the country’s population from 2010
to 2045. All regions are expected to increase in population but with varying rates
of growth. Ten regions are projected to grow faster than the national average
with five of these regions located in Mindanao. Western Visayas and Central
Visayas are the other regions surpassing the 10-million mark, with 10.4 million
each in 2045. (PSA,2015).
With increasing population, the demand for food also increases, people go
hungry every day. Advances in agriculture are critical if we are to reduce hunger
and promote growth and development in a socially acceptable and
environmentally sustainable way.
In your previous lesson, you learned about the tools and techniques of
biotechnology applied in agriculture. The methods of producing genetically
modified crops.
This module will provide you with information and activities that will help
you understand the benefits from the applications of biotechnology in
agriculture as well as the issues and concerns associated with using transgenic
crops in agriculture.

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 Before going on, check how much you know about this topic. Answer
the pretest on the next page in a separate sheet of paper

What I Know
Directions: Carefully read each item. Use a separate sheet of paper for your
answers. Write only the letter of the best answer for each question.

1. The first food product of biotechnology introduced in the market in 1990

was
A. an enzyme used in cheese production C. Bt rice
B. a yeast used for baking Transgene D. Both A & B

2. By introducing disease resistance and increased drought tolerance to the

crops this would help farmers to lower losses and
__________________________.
A. increased crop productivity C. improve flavor of plants
B. improve in food processing D. improve nutritional vlue

3. There is a belief that transgenic crops might cross-pollinate with related

weeds, possibly resulting in “superweeds” that become more difficult to
control. This environmental issue refer to
A. loss of biodiversity C. Potential gene escape and superweeds
B. insecticide resistance D. Antibiotic resistance

4. An enzyme produced by genetically engineered bacteria. It replaces calf

rennet in cheese-making.
A. Lactase B. Chymosin C. Trypsin D. Maltase

5. Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology’s Institute for

Plant Sciences inserted genes from these to organisms into rice plants to
produce “golden rice. What are these organisms?
A. Plasmid and Bacterium C. Daffodil and Bacterium
B. Bacterium and T DNA D. Daffodil and Plasmid

6. This is also known as suicide seeds.

A. genetic use restriction technology C. GURT
B. “Terminator” technology D. All of the choices are correct.

7. The following are benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture, EXCEPT.

A. Virus resistance C. Better flavor
B. Improved nutritional value D. Labeling
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8. Which of the following statements about the contribution of biotech crops
to sustainability is true?
A. Helps mitigate climate change.
B. Reduces agricultures Eco- footprints.
C. Helps conserve biodiversity.
D. All of the choices are correct.

9. The following are environmental and ecological issues associated with

using transgenic crops in agriculture, EXCEPT.
A. allergens and toxins
B. potential gene escape and superweeds
C. insecticide resistance
D. loss of biodiversity

10.Which of the following examples describe the improved nutritional value

of foods?
A. GE Corn, cotton & potato have been successfully transformed to
make a protein that kills certain insects when they feed on the
plants.
B. Transgenic crops in development like soybeans with higher protein
content.
C. Researchers developed two varieties of papaya resistant to papaya
ringspot virus by transferring one of the virus’ genes to papaya to
create resistance in the plants.
D. GE varieties reduce soil erosion because they make adoption of
soilconserving practices easier.

How did you find the pre-test? What was your score? If you got 10
items correctly, you may skip the module. But if your score is 9
and below, you must proceed with the module. Have fun learning!

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 Module App lications o f Biotechnology

4 in Agriculture

What ’ s In
Directions: Below is an activity for you to recall what you have learned in
module 3. Write your answers in a separate paper.

A. TRUE or FALSE: The following statements are techniques of biotechnology

applied in agriculture. Write true if the statement is correct. If not, change
the underlined word to make it correct.

1. PCR technique of molecular diagnostics is easy to operate in detecting

plant diseases resulting from bacteria pathogens.
2. Conventional breeding utilizes molecular markers.
3. Genetic engineering is made possible through rDNA technology.
4. Transgenic crop is a genetically modified organism (GMO).
5. T DNA is a circular piece of DNA found in almost all bacteria.

B. Below are major steps involved in the generation of transgenic plants using
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Arrange in sequential order by
placing numbers 1-6 on the space provided.

_________ cells screened for transgene

_________ gene inserted into ti plasmid
_________ gene identified and isolated
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_________ transformed cells selected with selectable marker
_________ transgenic plant regenerated from single transformed cell
_________ ti plasmid moves into plant cell and inserts DNA into plant
chromosome

What’s New

For you to understand the less on well, do the following a ctivitie s.

Have fun and good luck!

Activity 1: Fill in the missing letters to complete the word or phrase,

then identify the examples as advantages or disadvantages of genetic
engineering in agriculture by placing check on the columns. Use separate
sheet of paper for your answers.

Examples Advantage Disadvantage

1. DEL__ __AYED F__UIT RI__ __NING

2. IN__ECT__CID__ RE__IS__ANCE

3. ALLER__ __NS

4. FRESH__ __ PR__ __UCE

5. BE__ __ER FL__ __OR

What is It
The significant aspect of biotechnology is to develop better crops. Better
crops mean resistant to damage from insects or droughts. Crops that taste
better, last longer and can grow anywhere.
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 Scientists have developed solutions to increase agricultural productivity;
enhances breeders’ ability to make improvements in crops and livestock; enables
improvements that are not possible with traditional crossing of related species
alone.

History
Agricultural biotechnology has been practiced for a long time. For about
10,000 years, farmers have been improving wild plants and animals through the
selection and breeding of desirable characteristics. In 1990, the first food
product of biotechnology (an enzyme used in cheese production and a yeast
used for baking) appeared on the market. Farmers have been growing genetically
engineered crops since 1995 like Bt corn and cotton. In 2003, 7 million farmers
in 18 countries— more than 85 percent of them resource-poor farmers in the
developing world—were planting biotech crops. Almost one third of the global
biotech crop area was grown in developing countries.

Benefits of Genetic engineering in agriculture.

Following are a few examples of benefits resulting from applying currently

available genetic engineering techniques to agricultural biotechnology.

Increased crop productivity by introducing such qualities as disease

resistance and increased drought tolerance to the crops., researchers can select
genes for disease resistance from other species and transfer them to important
crops. This would help farmers to lower losses.
Researchers from the University of Hawaii and Cornell University
developed two varieties of papaya resistant to papaya ringspot virus by
transferring one of the virus’ genes to papaya to create resistance in the plants.
Seeds of these two varieties have been freely distributed to papaya growers since
May of 1998.

Enhanced crop protection. It provides cost-effective solutions to pest problems

crops such as corn, cotton, and potato have been successfully transformed
through genetic engineering to make a protein that kills certain insects when
they feed on the plants.

Improvement in food processing. The first GMO food product to receive

regulatory approval, in 1990, was chymosin, an enzyme produced by genetically
engineered bacteria. It replaces calf rennet in cheese-making and is now used in
60 percent of all cheese manufactured. Its benefits include increased purity, a
reliable supply, a 50% cost reduction, and high cheese-yield efficiency.

Improved nutritional value. It has allowed new options for improving the
nutritional value, flavor, and texture of foods. Transgenic crops in development
include soybeans with higher protein content, potatoes with more nutritionally
available starch and an improved amino acid content, beans with more essential
amino acids and rice with the ability produce beta-carotene, a precursor of
vitamin A, to help prevent blindness in people who have nutritionally inadequate
diets.

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Better flavor. Flavor can be altered by enhancing the activity of plant enzymes
that transform aroma precursors into flavoring compounds. Transgenic peppers
and melons with improved flavor are currently in field trials.

Fresher produce. Genetic engineering can result in improved keeping properties

to make transport of fresh produce easier, giving consumers access to
nutritionally valuable whole foods and preventing decay, damage, and loss of
nutrients.
Transgenic tomatoes with delayed softening can be vine-ripened and still
be shipped without bruising. Research is under way to make similar
modifications to broccoli, celery, carrots, melons, and raspberry. The shelf-life of
some processed foods such as peanuts has also been improved by using
ingredients that have had their fatty acid profile modified.

Environmental benefits. When genetic engineering results in reduced pesticide

dependence this would mean less pesticide residues in foods, reduce pesticide
leaking into groundwater, and minimize farm worker exposure to hazardous
products.

Herbicide tolerance. Chemical herbicides are frequently used to control weeds.

Researchers realized that if a crop plant is genetically engineered to be resistant
to a broad-spectrum herbicide, weed management could be simplified and safer
chemicals could be used. It is often argued that such GE varieties reduce soil
erosion, because they make adoption of soil-conserving practices such as “no-
till” easier (zero tillage or direct drilling).

Virus resistance. Many plants are susceptible to diseases caused by viruses,

which are often spread by insects (such as aphids) from plant to plant across a
field. it can be very difficult to control and crop damage can be severe.
Insecticides often have little impact on the spread of the disease.

Delayed fruit ripening. Delaying the

ripening process in fruit is of interest
to producers because it allows more
time for shipment of fruit from the
farmer’s fields to the grocer’s shelf and
increases the shelf life of the fruit for
consumers. Fruit that is genetically
engineered to delay ripening can be
left to mature on the plant longer, will
have longer shelflife in shipping, and
may last longer for consumers. Figure
1 shows comparison of ordinary
tomatoes with genetically modified tomatoes.

Benefits for developing countries. Genetic engineering technologies can help

to improve health conditions in less developed countries. Researchers from the
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology’s Institute for Plant Sciences inserted
genes from a daffodil and a bacterium into rice plants to produce “golden rice,”
which has sufficient beta-carotene to meet total vitamin A requirements in
developing countries with rice-based diets. This crop has potential to

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significantly improve vitamin uptake in poverty-stricken areas where vitamin
supplements are costly and difficult to distribute, and vitamin A deficiency leads
to blindness in children.

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 The infographic below demonstrates how GMOs contribute to sustainability.

Source: https://www.isaaa.org/resources/infographics/biotechcropsbenefits/ISAAA-
Infographics_Benefits.pdf

Possible risks associated with using transgenic crops in agriculture.

Some consumers and environmentalists feel that inadequate effort has

been made to understand the dangers in the use of transgenic crops, including
their potential long-term impacts. These groups have demanded the
abandonment of genetic engineering research and development which include
some issues and fears that are divided into three groups as shown below.
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Issues
and
fears

Health - related Environmental and Social issues

issues ecological i ssues

Health-related issues

1. Allergens and toxins. People with food allergies have an unusual

immune reaction when they are exposed to allergens in food. A major
safety concern raised about genetic engineering technology is the risk of
introducing allergens and toxins into otherwise safe foods.

2. Antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance genes technique ensures that

a gene transfer during genetic modification was successful. Use of these
markers has raised concerns that new antibiotic resistant strains of
bacteria will emerge. The rise of diseases that are resistant to treatment
with common antibiotics is a serious medical concern of some opponents
of genetic engineering technology.

Environmental and ecological issues

1. Potential gene escape and superweeds. There is a belief among some

opponents of genetic engineering technology that transgenic crops might
cross-pollinate with related weeds, possibly resulting in “superweeds” that
become more difficult to control.

2. Insecticide resistance. Another concern Involves the question of

whether insect pests could develop resistance to crop-protection features
of transgenic crops. There is fear that large-scale adoption of Bt crops will
result in rapid build-up of resistance in pest populations. Insects possess
a remarkable capacity to adapt to selective pressures, but to date, despite
widespread planting of Bt crops, no Bt tolerance in targeted insect pests
has been detected.

3. Loss of biodiversity. Many environmentalists, including farmers, are

very concerned about the loss of biodiversity in our natural environment.
Increased adoption of conventionally bred crops raised similar concerns
in the past century, which led to extensive efforts to collect and store
seeds of as many varieties as possible of all major crops.
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Social Issues

1. Labeling/ Food Labels. Some consumer groups argue that foods derived
from genetically engineered crops should carry a special label.
A label only to be placed only if the new gm food product is different
in its nutritional value, composition or if they pose any health risks.

2. “Terminator” technology. Also known as genetic use restriction

technology (GURT) or suicide seeds. Farmers are forced to buy new hybrid
seeds every season because the second-generation seeds from biotech
crops are always infertile. This infertility is due to ‘terminator genes’
present inside gm seeds. It is like a single-use product. In conventional
family farms, farmers used to store the seed to plant in the next season
but that cannot happen if you would like to plant transgenic crops. This
means that, to reap the benefits of plant biotechnology, the farmers will
have to enter the economic cycle of major biotech seed companies.
In developing countries, many farmers who are not growing
hybrids save harvested seeds for replanting the next year’s crop.

Myths & Facts about Agricultural Biotechnology by ISAAA

(International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications)

Scientists who have conducted research on GM crops have attested to the

safety of such crops and their contributions to global agricultural productivity
and alleviating poverty and hunger. Farmers and their families who have
planted biotech crops enjoy their benefits. However, critics believe otherwise,
saying GM crops are not likely to help contribute to global food security. ISAAA
gives the facts behind the myths about agricultural biotechnology. Here are
some in the list.

MYTH FACT
1. Field trials of biotech crops are 1. Field trials are conducted to
made to appear successful, but the compare
results are falsified. Field trials have GM crops with non-GM counterparts
successful results due to the use of and provided similar agricultural
additional fertilizer and less pesticide. management except for the one related
to the transgenic trait.
2. The genetic engineering of crops is 2. Genetic modification happens
not natural. That type of genetic naturally. Farmers have been
modification probably does not happen crossbreeding plants for centuries,
naturally. depending on trial-and-error to get
the
desired results. Biotechnology is a
safer, more deliberate way
of achieving—and replicating—
the desired results.

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3. Field trials of biotech crops are 3. Field trials are conducted under very
dangerous. There is a high risk of strict conditions and follow stringent
contaminating other crops in nearby regulations. These conditions include
fields. the prevention of pollen flow and the
prevention of entry into food and feed
pathways. Failure to comply with any
single condition or regulation means
the trial will be stopped.
4. Planting biotech crops harms the 4. Current farming practices,
environment. We don’t know what including the use of pesticides and
effects these crops will have on the herbicides, are very harmful to the
environment in ten or twenty years. environment, and to human health—of
farmers and consumers—as well.
Biotech crops that are designed to be
pest resistant will significantly reduce
the use of pesticides and herbicides

5. Biotech crops are responsible for 5. Excessive and irresponsible use of

the evolution of “super bugs” and
“killer
weeds.” Pests and weeds evolve or
adapt to overcome the crop’s
genetic modification.
pesticides and herbicides are
responsible for the evolution of “super
bugs” and
“killer weeds.” Adaption of pests and
diseases to resistance genes occur in
both conventionally bred and GM lines.
Compliance with resistance
management helps minimize this
phenomenon.
 6. Foods made with biotech crops are
not safe for human consumption. They
cause allergies, cancer, homosexuality,
and birth defects, as well as many other
negative side effects.
6. Foods made with biotech crops
have been in the market for years
and are as safe as food from
traditional
crops.
Rigorous testing is done on all biotech
crops before they are even
commercialized. If they have been
approved for commercialization, then
they have been proven safe to eat.

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What’s More

Here are some enrichment activities for you to work on to master and
strengthen the basic concepts you have learned from this lesson.

Independent Activity 1: What do people think about GM crops?

Direction: Write advantage or disadvantage for the following statements about

genetically modified (GM) crops.

1. GM can increase the yield of crops. ____________________________

2. The taste of the GM crop will not be as delicious
as the natural crop ___________________________
3. More crops can be grown in places that are
colder or hot and dry conditions. ____________________________
4. GM crops are thoroughly tested before being
sold to the public. ____________________________
5. People might develop new allergies to a modified
crop. ____________________________
6. Gm crops may disrupt food chains ____________________________

7. The cost of buying food will be less. ____________________________

8. We do not know the long-term effects of GM
crops on our health- they may unforeseen side ____________________________
effects

Independent Assessment 1

Direction: Answer the following questions. Use separate sheet of paper for your
answer.

1. What are GM foods?

2. Name 3 transgenic crops in development that have improved nutritional
value and give its advantages.
3. Which dangers can Gm foods pose to people’s health?
4. What are these environmental concerns associated with GM crops?
5. How is GURT become a social concern?

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Independent Activity 2:

Direction: Match the genetically modified organism to their advantage. Write only
the letter of the correct answer. Use separate sheet of paper.

GM Organism Advantage
A. Tomatoes have darker skin full of
1. Vaccinated Bananas antioxidants to prevent cancer.

2. Purple Tomatoes B. Plants remove 91% of the pollution from

3. Flava Svar Tomatoes
4. Pollution plants
5. Pig/ Swine
underground water.
C. Eating a banana may prevent diseases such
as Hepatitis.
D. Pigs produce less smelly, less toxic poop.
E. Tomatoes ripen and rot more slowly.

Independent Assessment 2

Direction: What are the counter arguments for the viewpoints concerning GM
foods below? Fill in the blanks using the words inside the box. Some can be
used more than once. Use separate sheet of paper for your answers.

nutrients
seeds plant diseases herbicides

biodegradable safety studies

Pro- GM food arguments Counter arguments
GM crops do not increase intrinsic
Increase crop yields yield. Some GM herbicides kill
natural (1) _____________ and
organisms in the soil, leading to (2)
_______________.
GMOs are energy- Research reveals that even though
friendly because of the the no-till method did reduce farm
‘no-till method’, which operations, large amounts of energy
reduces the number of are still consumed due to the
tractors passes production of (3) ___________ used on
GM crops.
Reduce use of herbicides GE in fact leads to increasing use of
/ pesticide herbicides / pesticide. Some GM
herbicides are not (4) _______ as
claimed, and even are ‘dangerous for
the environment’
Lower cost for farmers Farmers have to pay more for GM (5)
_________ and (6) ________________.
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 GMOs are safe There are no conclusive (7)
_________________ on GMOs, as
independent researchers are
prohibited to use GE crops for their
studies.

What I Can Do

Directions: Read the excerpts Genetically Modified Foods. Answer the questions
that follow. Use separate sheet of paper for your answers.

The term ‘GM foods’ or ‘GMOs’ (genetically-modified organisms) is

most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or
animal consumption using the latest molecular biology
techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to
enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides
or improved nutritional content.

Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can create plants with

the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. For example, plant

geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert that gene into a
different plant. The new genetically modified plant will gain drought tolerance as well.

Reduced effectiveness of pesticides

Just as some populations of mosquitoes developed resistance to
the now-banned pesticide DDT, many people are concerned that
insects will become resistant to Bt. or other crops that have been
genetically-modified to produce their own pesticides.

There is a growing concern that introducing foreign genes into

food plants may have an unexpected and negative impact on
human health. A recent article published in Lancet examined the effects of
GM potatoes on the digestive tract in rats. This study claimed that there were
appreciable differences in the intestines of rats fed GM potatoes and rats fed
unmodified potatoes.

1. What does ‘GMO’ stand for?

G _____________ M _____________ O _____________
2. What has been modified? How?
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 ______________________________________________________________________
_ 3. Have these plants been modified “IN NATURE’ or ‘IN THE
LABORATORY?
______________________________________________________________________
_ 4. What are two reasons why these plants have been modified?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. What is the benefit of genetic engineering?
_______________________________________________________________________
6. What happened to some populations of mosquitoes?
_______________________________________________________________________
7. What are people concerned will happen to insects if crops have been
genetically-modified to produce their own pesticides?
_______________________________________________________________________
8. What is the growing concern about introducing foreign genes into food
plants?
_______________________________________________________________________
9. What did a study of rats fed GM potatoes and rats fed unmodified potatoes
claim?
______________________________________________________________________
10.‘POSITIVE’ or ‘NEGATIVE’? Growing numbers of people think that GM
foods will have a __________________________impact on human health.

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