FILAMER CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

College of Arts and Sciences

Accredited Level III - ACSCU - ACI
Roxas City, Capiz

GEC 7

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Module 9: Biodiversity, Nano World and Gene Therapy

A. ON BIODIVERSITY

Overview

From the early times, when ancient philosophers of nature tried to explain all things as
coming from the elements of water, fire, air, or earth, science sought for the common
characteristic, a unifying element, in all of nature’s many phenomena. There was a growing
awareness of how all living things are related to each other, an idea called biodiversity.

This recognition started when naturalists began to classify organisms in the natural world
using taxonomy, a system devised by Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus. Taxonomy is the
hierarchical system of classifying and naming organisms. It builds on the ability of the mind to
find the common in the diverse, the One in the Many. It is a system commonly used today and
shows that though the living organisms in the world are so diverse, they still share many traits.

One of the basic laws of the living is that of self-preservation. An organism will sacrifice all
it has to ensure its survival. However, with a limited amount of resources, how do the many
living organisms of a diverse region survive? The energy needed to live is shared among the
elements of the living world, or passed on from one to another.
Objectives

At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

1. Determine the interrelationships of society, the environment, and health;

2. Explain the process of genetic engineering; and
3. Discuss the ethics, implications, and potential future impacts of GMO’s.

Module Contents

1. BIOTECHNOLOGY

The Biodiversity International has released a module entitled “Law and policy of
relevance to the management of plant genetic resources (Bragdon, et al., 2005) which aims
to help professionals in managing, conserving, and using plant genetic resources for food
and agriculture. Modern biotechnology paves the way for new developments on food and
agriculture. It aims to develop new precision tools and diagnostics; speed up breeding
gains and efficiency; develop pest- and disease-resistant crops; combat salinity; drought,
and problems of agriculture; enhance the nutritional quality of food; increase crop varieties
and choice; reduce inputs and production costs; and increase profits (Bragdon, et al., 2005).

2. GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

A GMO is a plant, animal, microorganism, or other organism whose genetic makeup

has been modified using recombinant DNA methods (also called gene splicing), gene
modification, or transgenic technology. It is the result of a laboratory process where genes
from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially inserted into the genes of an
unrelated plant or animal, also called genetic engineering (GE) or genetic modification (GM).
Because this process involves the transfer of genes, GMO’s are also known as “transgenic”
organisms.

Genetic modification aims to address issues with regard to food security, agriculture,
drug production, and nutrition. The information about the microbe and its reproduction
mechanism are contained in its gene structure.
 In the process of recombinant DNA technology, the needed information for an organism
can be “borrowed” from another. Such a process means that a farmer can “design” an
organism to have the characteristics necessary to address particular issues. For example, a
farmer may want the crops to have less chance of getting bruised due to rough handling. If an
organism containing a gene that prevents bruising in the mature fruit employing the science of
genetics) could be found, then this characteristics could then be used to modify the crops
through the process of recombinant gene technology.

3. CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY

The protocol is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling,
transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMO’s) resulting from modern biotechnology
that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human
health. It takes a precautionary approach by making sure that countries are provided with the
data necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms
into their territory.

The Philippines recognizes the technologies that can be of particular help for its
development. Since the Philippines is one of the biodiversity “hotspots” in the world, it is
helpful to know how biotechnology will progress in the country. It was noted that the
Philippines has 3.8 points on its interest in food and biotechnology.

Questions for Reflection

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

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

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

4. Will you eat GMO’s? Why or why not?

 B. ON NANO WORLD

Overview

In the pursuit of science and technology, humans are now dealing more and more with a
world not seen by the naked eye. This is no surprise as the study of science keeps leading us
beyond the world of everyday. The information we search for is always available in nature but
we need tools to harvest it. The nano world, like the other scientific principles, provides both
knowledge and instrument to control nature.

Objectives

At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

1. Define the major potential and realized impacts of nanotechnology on society;

2. Analyze nanotechnology through the conceptual STS lenses; and
3. Examine the costs and benefits to society of nanotechnology.

Module Contents

1. WHY NANO?

The term “nano” refers to a unit meaning one billionth or ten raised to negative nine. For
example, a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Hence, “nano” expresses a very tiny
amount or size.

Just as we not aware of the air we breathe or the molecules constantly feeding our cells at
every second, we are also not conscious of these very little particles. Since the nano world
cannot be seen by the naked eye, it was only recognized and identified after technology has
allowed for the discovery of nanostructures. Without the microscope and its attendant
technology, people would not even be aware of how this tiny world surrounds and affects us.
 Nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of matter on an atomic or subatomic scale.
Some innovations developed in this field include microprocessors and strain-resistant fabrics.
In the future, as nanoscience and nanotechnology progress, more breakthroughs are expected
to arise in the different fields of science, hopefully resolving problems in health, environment,
and security, among others.

Questions for Reflection

1. What are other examples of nanostructures?

2. How can nanotechnology address problems in the environment?

3. What is another example of a nanotechnology and how does it work?

Supplemental Activity

Watch the video on You Tube titled “The Next Step in Nanotechnology (George Tulevski)” by
TED Talks. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions. Submit your answers
afterwards.

1. Why is nanotechnology likened to creating a statue out of a pile of dust?

2. Why is nanotechnology a difficult science?

3. What does nature show about building organisms from the bottom up?

4. How can chemistry help in nanotechnology?

 C. ON GENE THERAPY

Overview

When identifying the contribution of technology to biology, the first place to look would be
the field of human health. The whole vast concerns of human health including aging, disease
treatment and prevention, and diet and general lifestyle have greatly benefited from
technology. Medicine is one example of a scientific and technological innovation that made a
breakthrough in the area of human health. Before aspirin was even understood at the nano
level, it had been known for its effects. Pain and various forms could be relieved and softened
by this medicine. The aspirin was already an “old” technology in the areas of nano and gene
science can be incorporated to medicine. If new discoveries on the areas of molecular and
atomic physics are applied to the biological basic building blocks- the genes- even greater
technologies for human health may be found.

Objectives

At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

1. Describe gene therapy and its various forms;

2. Discuss the prevalence of gene therapy in daily life; and
3. Explore the opportunities that may be opened by gene therapy in the future.

Module Content

A. What we should know about stem cell treatment in the Philippines

Manila, Philippines – In recent years, it’s common to hear beauty doctors in the
Philippines offering stem cell therapy as if it is a new-found medical fountain of youth, the
answer to all medical worries.
 In various media platform, there are bombardment of advertisements from various
hospitals and clinics packaging stem cell therapy as “cure-all” remedy.

With such medical breakthrough, it begs the question on how equipped we are in
offering such services. We can’t help but ask the parameters on distinguishing the real
experts from seemingly fly-by-night clinics and medical centers.

Filipino-American doctor-lawyer Samuel Bernal, an expert in the fields of regenerative

medicine and regulatory law, said the public should take a lot of precautions.

“Be careful. Number one, stem-cell therapy is not a cure-all” (medical procedure),” he
said in an interview with the INQUIRER a few weeks after receiving the 2012 Presidential
Award for Filipino individuals and Organizations Overseas at the Malacañang Palace.

“He said that the goal of stem-cell therapy is not a longevity-anti-aging program. Stem
cell therapy is actually trying to allow the body to heal itself”. Educated at Johns Hopkins’
and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Bernal is currently a Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the
University of California-Los Angeles, member of American Association of Clinical
Oncologists, the American Association of Cancer Researchers, and a recognized cancer
investigator with the US National Institutes of Health.

As a lawyer, his legal expertise includes cases on medical malpractice, medical product
liability, as well as Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC)
regulations in the testing, approval, advertising, and marketing of health products.

He explained stem cell treatment requires “analyzing at the molecular level what is
causing the problem or (what could be done) to prevent the problem”. “Stem cells are
just a small part of the molecular approach to medicine”.

Suppose scientists would like to fashion a gene to counter cancer cell growth. After
several steps of developing the technology, its success would still depend on its science and
implementation. To achieve the goal, the harmful gene has to be found among the 46
such structures in the ordinary cells of the person.

The specific part of the gene doing the problem should be identified. Afterwards, that
section of the gene must be removed and replaced with the “correct” or developed gene
part to complete the therapy. This process would then correct the misinformation
encoded in the whole gene.

The financial cost of this therapy is not trivial. Each of the steps mentioned requires
expertise and technological skill. Therefore, gene therapy can be costly.
 Questions for Reflection

1. Research on the various forms of gene therapy. How are they done?

2. What are the recent developments in gene therapy?

3. What health condition do you think urgently need to be treated by gene therapy?
Justify your answer.

4. Do you think the average human lifespan will change 20 years from now? Why or why
not?

5. Stem cell treatment has been a subject of debates since the early 21st century. What
do you think about the current developments in stem cell treatment?

References

De Jesus, T. V. (2013). What we should know about stem cell treatment in the Philippines.
inquirer-net. Retrieved from http://business.inquirer.net/105075/what-we-should-know-
about-stem-cell-treatment-in-the-ph

McNamara, D.J., Valverde, V.M., and Belleno, R. III. (2018). Science, Technology and Society,
C & E Publishing House, Inc.
 FILAMER CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
College of Arts and Sciences
Accredited Level III - ACSCU - ACI
Roxas City, Capiz

GEC 7

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Module 10: Climate Change, Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases

Overview

All the discussions regarding the interaction among science, technology, and society will
include with a current controversial topic – climate change. It is current in a sense that it has
been put under international spotlight since the start of the 21 st century. Data that have been
accumulated are used by scientists to determine if there really is a significant change in the
earth’s climate. But what does climate change mean? Doesn’t the climate always change?

Climate is not similar to weather which is constantly changing. Climate refers to the long
run-term weather patterns prevailing over a given area of the planet. The term comes from a
Greek word Klinein meaning “to slope”. It evolved into klima, connoting a zone or region of
the Earth as characterized by its atmospheric conditions. In ancient Greece, the orb of the sun
stood at a high in the sky at noontime as ships sailed toward the north, and the daytime
temperature of the air would get colder. Hence the klima in the north was colder than in the
south.

Another consideration in explaining climate change is the interaction between the sun and
the Earth. The best way to visualize this relationship is to look at the orbit of the Earth around
the sun. With the sun in the center, the Earth moves in an elliptical motion.
Objectives

At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

1. Explain how climate change happens;

2. Provide pieces of evidence to affirm the presence of climate change; and
3. Discuss the implications of climate change.

Course Contents

1. ON CLIMATE CHANGE

a. EARTH’S MOVEMENT AROUND THE SUN

While the orbit remains an ellipse, its position or orientation in space changes over time.
Due to the tilt of the Earth, the whole area does not receive an equal amount of sunlight. The
Earth spins around its own axis, an imaginary line from the North Pole to the South Pole, which
dips and wobbles gradually. The Earth could then be imagined like a spinning top or trumpo,
turning and wobbling in its path about the sun.

The center of the Earth’s orbital motion is the sun but the angle or orientation of the planet
around the sun makes all the difference. In discussing global warming or climate change, it
makes sense to start considering the orbit of the Earth. Sunlight falling upon the Earth warms
the planet. The amount of sunlight, however, is not constant since the orientation of the Earth
to the sun changes.

b. MILANKOVITCH PARAMETERS

The concern raises the question as to what causes such dramatic changes in the day-to-day
weather and climate. It was addressed as early as the 1930s by Slovak scientist and
meteorologist Milutin Milankovitch. His interest in the daily weather patterns led him to
investigate the deeper issues. Do weather and climate come ultimately from the sun so that it
is the sun and its relation to the Earth that accounts for the change in the climate? Is it
possible that as the distance of the sun to the Earth changes, the Earth is affected enough to
cause climate to change?
 A contemporary scientists critiqued his work, saying that the effects of the change in the
radius of the Earth’s orbit, the change in the tilt of the spin of the Earth, and the wobble in the
spin axis (now called the Milankovitch parameters), while real, were each so small that they
could not alter the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth enough to cause a phenomenon like
the Ice Age. They felt he had a good idea but it was not enough to explain the event that was
being addressed. Milankovitch’s calculations indicated that there would indeed be a change
but seemed far too small to cause an Ice Age.

Milankovitch believed that there was on something so much to validate his theoretical
calculations. Even the electronic adding machine and modern computing devices and the
technology at hand, cannot prove that the mathematics was correct in changing climate.

Using the computer, scientists went back to the mathematical equations that described
how the sun-Earth relationship causes the climate change over thousands and even millions of
years. They have come to realize that changing the Milankovitch parameters over long
periods of time can indeed have a cumulative effect far greater than it appears at first glance.
This discovery is part of what has been called a “new” science called Chaos theory (Gleick,
1987).

In summary, it can thus be seen that science has been reviewing for decades the issue of
how and why the climate changes, especially with regard to explaining the Ice Age.
Milankovitch studied whether or not the direct amount of sunlight falling on Earth was the
cause of the Ice Age. He reasoned that over thousands of years, the relative position of the
Earth and sun changes, causing variations in the solar radiation reaching the Earth over
thousands of years.

With the advent of Chaos theory, it seems that the Milankovitch theory might in fact be
relevant to the question of long-term climate change (Stewart, 2002).

2. ON GLOBAL WARMING

The Milankovitch parameters seem to be part of the cause of climate change, though not
the only cause. Today, as the world considers climate change and its implications on food
security and national development, many nations are taking a deeper look at the science
behind the issue.
 Most of the scientists who study climate change agree that the average temperature of the
Earth’s atmosphere has been increasing by over 90% in the latter part of the 20 th century (Rees,
2001).

The main reason for global warming is that there is no reference to human beings and their
actions. Global warming will happen as naturally as the suns rises and sets. Meanwhile, the
other side maintains that global warming is caused or greatly attributed by the actions of
human beings. It lays the blame on the actions of humanity, past and present.

An important visual is the sharpness of the CO2 increase around the beginning of the
present century. Some scientist believes that the level could reach an irreversible situation in
which the heat and temperature of the planet will be unstable and unpredictable. It should be
remembered as well that while CO2 is a known indicator of global warming, it is not the only
greenhouse gas to be concerned with.

3. ON GREENHOUSE GASES

The so-called greenhouse effect refers to how certain gases in the atmosphere trap the
heat of the sun. As early as 1859, British engineer John Tyndall wrote:

As a dam built across a river causes a local deepening of the stream, so our atmosphere,
thrown across the terrestrial (infrared rays, produces a local heightening of the temperature at
the Earth’s surface (quoted in Weart, 2003).

His words mean that the atmosphere contains certain gases that naturally capture the heat
from the sun and hold it in so that the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere becomes hotter
than it would be otherwise. This mechanism is good for the biosphere because without it, the
Earth’s atmosphere would be like that of Mars and Antarctica – extremely cold. Life can be
sustained as planet Earth due to these gases and other elements.

In the middle of the 19th century, Tyndall noted that the most prevalent of these
greenhouse gases is water vapor. Meanwhile, the amount of CO2 was miniscule. Tyndall,
however, was concerned as to what would become of the Earth’s atmosphere if
industrialization became widespread.

Industrialization is the conversion of an agrarian economy into an industrialized one on a

large scale. Since machines are primarily used in an industry, the production of electricity by
means of burning fossil fuel- usually coal – increases. In Tyndall’s time, manufacturing plants
were not as widespread so the by-product of burning fossil fuel, CO2, was not great enough to
be an issue.

In a century’s time, the situation changed. With the Second World War and the changes in
the geo-political arena, the industrialization of many nations has directly affected the amount
of CO2 in the atmosphere. This led Charles David Keeling, an American scientist in the mid-
20th century, to find out if the increased burning of fossil fuel and the consequent release of
CO2 in the atmosphere were changing the global temperature of the atmosphere. He began
to measure the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere of a place far away from the industrialized
nations- on an extinct volcano on the island of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean (Weart, 2003).

Scientists turned to history and technology to substantiate that there is a causal

relationship between high CO2 and high temperature levels. This issue concerns many nations
since not burning fossil fuels may mean not industrializing or modernizing.

4. ON FUTURE ACTIONS

This issue has implications on the environment and on the economy – burning of fossil fuels
is one of the major sources of electricity but also leads to higher amounts of CO2. All factors
must then be considered when resolving this issue. It we want to industrialize but at the same
time protect the environment, a balanced plan must be created.

Science has given humanity a tool for modernization. It allows for the emergence of
technology that spreads and applies knowledge for the attainment of the goof life. It must be
realized that science is more like a cookbook than a blueprint. It is open for experimentation,
innovation, and refinement. So like any good chef, reading it requires a fine sense of taste.

Questions for Reflection

1. Why does the average temperature of the atmosphere rise? What might have caused
the unprecedented increase in its level?

2. If climate change denial persists, what could possibly happen to the Earth and humanity
after 20, 50, and 100 years considering the current trend?

3. How does climate change affect biodiversity?

 4. What can people and nations do to fix global warming? Give five contributions you can
personally achieve and three potential contributions on a local and national scale.

5. Aside from the rise in mean temperature and CO2 levels, what are some other pieces of
evidence for global warming?

Supplemental Activity

At the end of the discussion, determine if the perceived values of parameters reflect real
statistics. Then, answer the following questions individually and submit your work to your
teacher:

1. How would you characterize the movement of the values? Does it have a consistent
pattern?

2. What can you observe about this year’s weather pattern when compared to that five
years ago?

3. Did you find it hard to measure the parameters using only your senses? Why or why
not?

References

Gleick, J. (1987). Chaos, making a new science. London: Penguin Books.

Rees, M. (2001). Our cosmic habit. Phoenix.

Weart, S. R. (2003). Discovery of global warming. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard

University.

McNamara, D.J., Valverde, V.M., and Belleno, R. III. (2018). Science, Technology and
Society. C & E Publishing House, Inc.