GE 7 – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, & SOCIETY

SPECIFIC ISSUES IN
SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, AND
SOCIETY
MODULE THREE

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INTRODUCTION
This module discusses more the information age, biodiversity, and the healthy society, the nanoworld, and climate change.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
 Link learned concepts to the development of the information age and its impact on society
 Illustrate how social media and the information age have impacted our lives
 Determine the interrelatedness of society, environment, and health
 Discuss the ethics and implications of GMOs and potential future impacts on biodiversity and the healthy society genetically.
 Discuss the major impacts (both potential and realized) of Nanotechnology on society
 Analyze the issue through the conceptual STS lenses
 Critique the issue on its costs and benefits to society
 Identify the causes of climate change
 Assess the various impacts of climate change including economic, geopolitical, biological, meteorological
 Apply STS concepts to the issue of climate change
 Research, present, and make a stand on S&T issues that currently affect Philippine society

LESSON 3A: THE INFORMATION AGE

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. define Information Age;
2. discuss the history of the Information Age; and
3. understand the factors that need to be considered in checking website sources.

 CONTENT EXPLORATION:
 INTRODUCTION

Our culture today is highly modernized, industrialized, data-driven, and technologically advanced, as
demonstrated by how easily knowledge can be transferred or exchanged. Different aspects of culture, such as
connectivity, economics, commerce, health, and the environment, have been profoundly affected. Despite the benefits
we have gained as a result of the rapid advancement of information technology, the rapid update of information often
has drawbacks. This lesson would cover the history of technological advances and their effect on society.

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 Life is accompanied by a never-ending flow of awareness both within and outside the human body. Information
is characterized as "information transmitted or received concerning a particular fact or situation," according to
Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary. As a result, intelligence is a critical survival weapon.

The Information Era is described as a "time beginning in the last quarter of the twentieth century when
information became readily available through publications and computer and computer network management of
information" (Vocabulary.com, n.d.). Humans' ability to express symbolic knowledge (e.g., writing, arithmetic, and other
codes) has advanced at a rapid pace. Because of its association with the invention of computing, the Information Age is
also known as the Digital Age or the New Media Age.

The Theory of the Information Age was introduced by James R. Messenger in 1982 "The Information Age is a true
modern epoch focused on the interconnection of computers through telecommunications, with information systems
running in real-time and on-demand. Furthermore, convenience and user-friendliness are the key drivers propelling this
modern period forward, resulting in user dependency."

History

The table below traces the history and emergence of the Information Age (Channel3000 Staff, 2016).

Table 1. Timeline of the Information Age

Year Event
3000 BC The Sumerian writing system used pictographs to represent words
2900 BC Beginnings of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing
1300 BC Tortoiseshell and oracle bone writing were used
500 BC Papyrus toll was used
220 BC Chinese small seal writing was developed
100 AD Book (parchment codex)
105 AD Woodblock printing and paper was invented by the Chinese
1455 Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press using movable metal type
1755 Samuel Johnson’s dictionary standardized English spelling
1802  The Library of Congress was established
 The invention of the Carbon arc lamp
1824 Research on the persistence of vision published
1830s  First viable design for a digital computer
 Augusta Lady Byron writes the world’s first computer program
1837 The invention of the telegraph in Great Britain and the United States
1861 Motion pictures were projected onto a screen
1876 Dewey Decimal system was introduced

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1877 Eadwcard Muybridge remonstrated high-speed photography
1899 The first magnetic recording was released
1902 Motion picture special effects were used
1906 Lee DeForest invented the electronic amplifying tube (triode)
1923 The television camera tube was invented by Zvorkyn
1926 First practical sound movie
1939 Regularly scheduled television broadcasting began in the US
1940s Beginnings of information science as a discipline
1945 Vannevar Bush foresaw the invention of hypertext
1946 ENIAC computer was developed
1948 Birth of field-of-information theory proposed by Claude E. Shannon
1957 The planar transistor was developed by Jean Hoerni
1958 First integrated circuit
1960s Library of Congress developed LC MARC (machine-readable code)
1969 UNIX operating system was developed, which could handle multitasking
1971 Intel introduced the first microprocessor chip
1972 An optical laserdisc was developed by Philips and MCA
1974 MCA and Philips agreed on a standard videodisc encoding format
1975 Altair Microcomputer Kit was released: first personal computer for the public
1977 RadioShack introduced the first complete personal computer
1984 Apple Macintosh computer was introduced
Mid-1980s Artificial intelligence was separated from information science
1987 Hypercard was developed by Bill Atkinson recipe box metaphor
January 1997 RSA (encryption and network security software) Internet security code cracked for a 48-bit
number)

Figure 15. Evolution of Man and Information

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Knowledge and its distribution have changed in many respects as man has advanced. We eventually stopped keeping them
to ourselves and began sharing and managing them in various ways. We were beaten to the punch by facts. It began to
spread at a pace that we were unprepared to cope with. Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, collecting and managing data
was problematic due to the proliferation of data. In the 1980s, there was a lot of angst. It was nicknamed "Knowledge
Fear" by Richard Wurman. Knowledge became the currency of the business world in the 1990s. The preferred mode
of communication was information, and information managers often acted as information officers. There is no question
that intelligence has become a commodity, an overdeveloped product, mass-produced, and unspecialized in today's
age. We quickly get overburdened by it. Different scholars have differing perspectives on the Information Age's evolution.
Despite this, we can also conclude that information is a vital weapon for changing one's lifestyle. One thing is certain:
The Information Age will continue to progress and grow well beyond our wildest imaginations.

The article "Truths of the Inhumation Age" by Robert Harris(n.d.) detailed some facts on the Information Age.

1. Data has to compete amongst itself. In the middle of the growing clutter, there is a need for
knowledge to stand out.
2. We have lost track of the idea that every fact or value will last.
4. A point of view is choice. If you want to get a more balanced representation of the truth, get facts
from multiple sources.
5. What the culture buys, the media offers. To put it another way, cultural priorities drive knowledge.
6. The perm is given to the first person who says something. The meaning, words, and perceptions
around a problem are often defined by the first media outlet to reveal it.
7. Your brain, like your body, is what you consume. Don't make any assumptions until you've heard
all of the suggestions and have all of the facts.
8. Something that is in high demand is likely to be faked. Since there is still a need for extraordinary
knowledge, gossip, and mysteries, often incidents are invented by tabloids, publicists, or other
intelligence swindlers.
9. Thoughts are regarded as divisive. Any claim would almost definitely have proponents and
detractors.
10. Material that has been declared undead continues to exist. Rumors, lies, misinformation, and rumors
never go anywhere. They don't go away, because they're already going around.
11. The narrative is created through media presence. When the media, particularly film news or
television news, is present, people act much differently than they would if they were being fil med.
The message is chosen by the medium.
12. Since television is mostly visual, partly aural, and only tangentially verbal, visual storylines like
explosions, chases, and crises are stressed.
13. Getting to the bottom of it is a journey. The information we receive is often selected, verbally paid,
filtered, slanted, and sometimes invented. What is often overlooked is just as significant as what is
included.

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Computer

Computers are one of the most substantial social contributions of the Information Age. A computer is a
data-storage and-processing electronic system (information). It is driven by a program that provides precise, step-
by-step instructions for solving a problem (USHistory Contributor, 1995).

Types of Computer

A wide range of terminology and definitions are used to describe computers. Most people suggest the
computer's size, planned usage, or strength/power. While the word "computer" can refer to almost any system
with a microprocessor, most people think of a computer as a device that accepts user input through a mouse (hand-
guided directions tool) or keyboard, executes it, and displays the result on a screen.

1. Personal Computer (PC)

It's a one-person device. Microcomputers were the first name given to PCs because they were full
machines designed on a smaller scale than the massive structures used by most companies (Lally, 2020).

2. Desktop Computer

It's defined as a computer that isn't designed to be portable. For a laptop, the idea is that it will be
placed in a permanent location. A workstation is essentially a desktop computer with a faster CPU, more memory,
and upgraded features for specialized tasks such as 3D graphics or game creation. Most desktop computers have
more storage, processing power, and flexibility than their compact counterparts (Sung & Mayer, 2012).

3. Laptops

There are battery-powered handheld computers that are significantly bigger than a standard hardcover book and
contain all of the basic features of a laptop computer. Notebooks are a common term for them (Ryan & Lewis,
2017).

4. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

These are closely integrated computers that often do not have keyboards and instead rely on user
feedback through a touch screen. PDAs are usually the size of a book, are lightweight, and run-on batteries
(Sarikaya, 2017).

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 5. Server

A device that has been upgraded to provide network services to other computers is referred to as a server.
Servers are normally fitted with powerful processors, a huge amount of memory, and large hard drives
(Christensson, 2014).

6. Mainframes

These are massive computers that can take up a whole room. Big companies, in particular, use them to
characterize the massive, costly computers that handle millions of transactions per day. Enterprise cloud has taken
the place of the word "mainframe." While some supercomputers are independent computer units, the majority
is made up of many high-performance, parallel computers that operate together as one (Christensson, 2006).

7. Wearable Computers

They include products that are often used in mobile phones, watches, and other small items or locations.
Databases, email, graphics, and schedulers are examples of modern computer applications (Fitzgibbons, 2019).

The World Wide Web (Internet)

Claude E. Shannon, an American mathematician regarded as the "Father of Knowledge Theory," is

credited with the invention of the Internet, according to some historians. He worked at Bell Laboratories and wrote
a paper at the age of 32 arguing that information can be quantified as a series of ones and zeros.

The Internet is a global network of interconnected networks that allows data to be transmitted between
millions of computers. It was created by the Department of Defense in the 1970s. Military advisors indicated that
in the event of an invasion, being able to work on one device from another terminal would be advantageous.
Initially, the Internet was mostly used by physicists to communicate with one another. Before 1984, the Internet
was under government surveillance (Christensson, 2015).

One of the first issues that Internet users encountered was speed. Phone lines will only relay data at a
certain speed. The invention of fiber-optic cables allowed the transfer of billions of bits of data per minute. Faster
microprocessors were developed by companies like Intel so that personal computers could process incoming signals
more rapidly (USHistory Contributor, 1995).

When Sergey Brin and Larry Page, directors of a Stanford research project, discovered that the most
popular result would always be the most accessible, they created a search engine that listed results based on

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page popularity. The researchers formed their company in 1998 after persuading families, colleagues, and other
partners to donate $1 million. Google is currently the most popular search engine on the globe, with over 200
million queries a day.

Modern modes of contact were also implemented at the time. Email, or electronic mail, was a
convenient way to communicate with coworkers, corporate associates, or relatives. Messages should be
submitted and received at the individual's leisure. A letter that had taken several days to arrive could now be read
in a matter of minutes. Electronic chat rooms are set up by Internet service providers such as America Online and
CompuServe. There were public parts of the internet where everyone might engage in a chat with strangers. Surfing
the internet has been a hobby in and of itself (USHistory Contributor, 1995).

As a result, firms whose industries are based on digitized information have become valuable and strong in
a comparatively short amount of time; the new Information Era has spawned its breed of wealthy prominent traders,
from Bill Gates of Microsoft to Steve Jobs of Apple to Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook.

Critics claim that the Internet has developed a technological rift that has widened the distance between
society's upper and lower classes. These opportunities were unavailable to anyone who could not afford a
computer or a recurring subscription fee. When opposed to a phone call or a handwritten note, many people
complain about how impersonal electronic correspondence is.

On the one side, the Internet's unrestricted and free existence allowed pornography to be broadcast to
millions of households. It will be impossible to protect children from these influences or otherwise from coming
into contact with aggressive predators. Because of the extensive use of social media, different kinds of offenses
have become prevalent. Cyberbullying is a global problem that needs to be addressed. As a consequence, we must
be mindful of the potential harm and destruction that could result from the exploitation of these
technological advancements in the Information Age.

Application of Computers in Science and Research

The field of bioinformatics is one of the most important uses of computers in science and research.
Bioinformatics is the use of information technology to collect, coordinate, and interpret large amounts of
biological data, and is stored in the form of protein sequences and structures, which are the building blocks of
organisms, and nucleic acids, which carry information (Oulas, et al., 2019).

The need to build collections of biological sequences ignited an early interest in bioinformatics. The
human brain can't contain all of an organism's genetic sequences, so machines are the best way to store,
interpret, and use this vast volume of data effectively.

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 Although the first protein sequence databases were held in separate labs, work on a centralized formal
database, known as the SWISS-PROT protein sequence database, began in 1986. It currently has about 70,000
protein sequences from over 5,000 model species, which is just a small percentage of all recognized organisms.
Both academic institutions and businesses will now analyze and research an immense range of divergent data
opportunities. These are made accessible to the science community as public domain material through the Internet
(www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) and CD-ROMs (on request from www.resb.org). Additional entries are added to these lists
regularly (Gauthier, Vincent, Charette, & Derome, 2019).

Computers and software tools are commonly used to create these databases, as well as to classify protein
activity, model protein structure, determine the coding (useful) regions of nucleic acid sequences, locate
appropriate drug compounds from a broad pool, and refine the drug discovery process by predicting potential
targets. BLAST (for matching sequences), Annotator (an immersive genome analysis tool), and GeneFinder (for
defining coding regions and splice sites) are some of the software resources that come in handy during the analysis
(Gauthier, Vincent, Charette, & Derome, 2019).

The sequence data produced by the human genome project, which began in 1988, has now been
archived as a key database for potential medical applications. The amount of data available is so large that if it
were condensed into books, it would take 200 volumes of 1,000 pages each, and only reading it would take 26 years
of round-the-clock work. The genetic sequence variation database will have approximately 15,000,000 billion
entries for a population of about five billion people with two persons separating by three million bases.To
compensate for the numerous programming processes and applications used in different laboratories, the current
goal is to upgrade database architecture, build applications for database access, and manipulate and monitor data-
entry procedures. During the method of assembling the genomes alone, the much-celebrated full human genome
sequence, which was officially announced on the 26th of June 2000, involved more than 500 x 1018 (500 million
trillion) estimates. This is the most significant project in the history of computational biology (Babu)

Furthermore, bioinformatics is the secret to sound drug discovery, according to the pharmaceutical
industry. Using high-powered computer workstations and applications like insight decreases the number of trials
in drug compound screening and finding new drug targets for a specific disease. This extensive use of
bioinformatics in genome sequence has given rise to a modern branch of pharmacology known as
pharmacogenomics. The genome sequences are used to hypothesize possible drug production targets. Becauseof
advancements in computer processors and design, molecular simulation, which involves a lot of calculations, has
become easier (Bilotta, Tradigo, & Veltri, 2019)

In the field of plant biotechnology. Bioinformatics helps detect disease resistance genes and develop high-
nutrient-value plants (Bilotta, Tradigo, & Veltri, 2019).

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How to Check the Reliability of Web Sources

The Internet provides a large collection of incredibly useful information, but it also has inaccurate,
distorted information that can lead to people being fooled. The recommendations below will assist us in
determining the reliability of online sources that we gather. To stop misinformation, it's necessary to think about
and follow the instructions below. (Mayer, 2020)

I. Who is the author of the article or website?

 What is the easiest way to find out?

At the top, bottom, or sidebar of the webpage, look for an "About" or "More About the Author" link. Rather
than a single author, several sites would have a corporate author. Be wary if no information about the page's
author(s) is given.

 Is the author's biographical information included?

 What level of knowledge does he or she have about the subject about which he or she is writing? Is
he or she open with his or her educational background?
 What kind of history does he or she possess? Should you put your trust in his or her subject
knowledge?

Try looking up facts about the author on the internet.

 What sorts of websites do you think the author's name is linked to? Is he or she a student at some
college or university?
 Are there any business pages that pop up? Do the author's websites send you some hints on any
particular prejudices he or she may have?

2. Who created the website?

 What is the easiest way to find out?

 Look at the website's domain name to figure out who is running the site. The Lee College Library, for
example, has a website at http://www.lee.edu/library. "lee.edu" is the domain name. This indicates
that Lee College hosts the library's website.
 Visit http://www.whois.sc/ to look up the domain name. The platform contains records about the
owners of domain names that have been licensed. What is the primary goal of the organization? If

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 the company has one, go to its official webpage. Is it instructive? Is it for profit? Is it a well-known
organization?
 The suffix on the domain name should not be ignored (the three-letter part that comes after the ".").
The suffix typically (but not always) implies the form of company that is hosting the web site. It's
important to remember that pages can have confusing suffixes. Such instances are as follows:

.edu stands for educational,

.com for commercial,
.mil for military
.gov for government, and
.org for non-profit.

3. What is the site's primary goal? Why was it written by the poet, and why was it published by the publisher?
• To promote a product?
• As a personal pastime?
• As a kind of public service?
• Do you want to do more research on a specific topic?
• To provide a broad overview of a subject?
• To convince you of a certain viewpoint?

4. Who is the target market?

• Is it for academics or the general public?

• Is it written for a particular age group?
• Is it targeted at people in a certain geographical area?
• Is it intended for practitioners of a certain occupation or others with specialized training?

5. Are the details given on the website of good quality?

 Timeliness: When did the web first go live? Is it checked daily? Dates can be found at the bottom of
each page of the website.
 Is there a list of references cited by the author? Online reports that reference their sources are
considered more credible, much like print sources?
 What kind of websites does the portal connect to? Are these pages trustworthy?
 What sorts of websites connected to the location you're assessing? Is the page being referenced
elsewhere?

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Examples of Useful and Reliable Web Sources

1. AFA e-Newsletter (Alzheimer’s Foundation of America newsletter)

2. American Memory — the Library of Congress historical digital collection.
3. Bartleby.com Great Books Online — a collection of free e-books including fiction, nonfiction,
references, and verses.
4. Chronicling America — search and view pages from American newspapers from 1880-1922.
5. Cyber Bullying — a free collection of e-books from the library plus additional reports and documents
to help better understand, prevent and take action against this growing concern.
6. Drug information websites:
 National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus
 Drugs.com
 PDRhealth
7. Global Gateway: World Culture & Resources (from the Library of Congress)
8. Google Books
9. scholar.google.com
10. History sites with primary documents:
 AMDOCS: Documents for the study of American history
 Avalon Project: Documents in Law, History, and Diplomacy (Yale Law School)
 Internet Modern History Sourcebook: Colonial Latin America
 Teacher Oz's Kingdom of History
11. Illinois Digital Archives — the Illinois State Library working with libraries, museums, and historical
societies in provides this collection of materials related to Illinois history:
12. Internet Archive — a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form.
13. Internet Archive for CARLI digitized resources
14. Internet Public Library
15. ipl2 — a merger of Librarians' Internet Index and Internet Public Library. Special interest may include
the "Literary Criticisms" page which can be found after clicking on the "Special Collections" link.
16. Librarians' Internet Index
17. Making of America — a digital library of primary sources in American social history.
18. Maps — from the University of Texas at Austin collection. Includes historical and thematic maps.
19. Nation Master — a massive central data source and a handy way to graphically compare nations. It is
a vast compilation of data from such sources as the CIA World Factbook, UN, and OECD.
20. Nursing sites:
 AHRQ (www.ahrq.gov)
 National Guidelines Clearinghouse (www.guideline.gov)
 PubMed (www.nlm.nih.gov)

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 21. Project Gutenberg is the world's first and largest collection of free downloadable books, with over 20,000
titles now online.
22. Shmoop — details on literature, US history, and poetry written by Ph.D. and master's students from
top universities such as Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, and Yale.
23. StateMaster - a one-of-a-kind statistical database that helps you to study and analyze a wide range of
data on US states from primary sources such as the US Census Bureau, FBI, and National Center for
Educational Statistics. To display results, it employs visualization techniques such as pie charts, maps,
graphs, and scatter plots.
24. Virtual Reference — the Library of Congress has assembled a list of online services.

You may also request assistance from librarians at the university library since they are experienced and
the library has a large collection of online library materials that are helpful for scholarly and research purposes.

SUMMARY

Information Age is also known as the Digital Age or the New Media Age. Theory of the Information Age was
introduced by James R. Messenger in 1982. Convenience and user-friendliness are the key drivers propelling this
modern period forward, resulting in user dependency.

In the middle of the growing clutter, there is a need for knowledge to stand out. There is no question that
intelligence has become a commodity, an overdeveloped product, mass-produced, and unspecialized in today's
age. One thing is certain: The Information Age will continue to progress and grow well beyond our wildest
imaginations. In the 1980s, there was a lot of angst. It was nicknamed "Knowledge Fear" by Richard Wurman. We
eventually stopped keeping them to ourselves and began sharing and managing them in various ways. We were
beaten to the punch by facts. It began to spread at a pace that we were unprepared to cope with.

If you want a more balanced representation of the truth, get facts from multiple sources, says the author.
Material that has been declared undead continues to exist. Rumors, lies, misinformation, and rumors never go
anywhere, he says. Computers are one of the most substantial social contributions of the Information Age, he
writes. The information we receive is often selected, verbally paid, filtered, slanted, and sometimes invented. The
narrative is created through media presence, writes the author. "Don't make any assumptions until you've heard
all of the suggestions and have all the facts"

Microcomputers were the first name given to PCs because they were full machines designed on a smaller
scale. Laptops are battery-powered handheld computers that are significantly bigger than a standard hardcover
book. Servers are normally fitted with powerful processors, a huge amount of memory, and large hard drives.
Supercomputers are made up of many high-performance, parallel computers that operate together as one. The
Internet is a global network of interconnected networks that allows data to be transmitted between millions of

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 computers. It was created by the Department of Defense in the 1970s to protect computers in the event of an
invasion.

Google is currently the most popular search engine on the globe, with over 200 million queries a day.
Because of the extensive use of social media, different kinds of offenses have become prevalent. Cyberbullying is
a global problem that needs to be addressed. We must be mindful of the potential harm and destruction that could
result from the exploitation of these technological advancements in the Information Age, writes Zain Verjee. It will
be impossible to protect children from these influences or otherwise from coming into contact with aggressive
predators.

Bioinformatics is the use of information technology to collect, coordinate, and interpret large amounts of
biological data. The human brain can't contain all of an organism's genetic sequences, so machines are the best
way to store, interpret, and use this vast volume of data. SWISS-PROT protein sequence database currently has
about 70,000 protein sequences from over 5,000 model species. The human genome project has now been archived
as a key database for potential medical applications. The amount of data available is so large that if it were
condensed into books, it would take 200 volumes of 1,000 pages each.

The Internet has inaccurate, distorted information that can lead to people being fooled. To stop
misinformation, it's necessary to think about and follow the instructions below. Look at the website's domain
name to figure out who is running the site. Try looking up facts about the author on the internet to check his or
her subject knowledge. The Lee College Library, for example, has a website at http://www.lee.edu/library. "lee"
is the domain name. This indicates that Lee College hosts the library's website.

The suffix on the domain name should not be ignored (the three-letter part that comes after the "."). The
suffix typically (but not always) implies the form of company that is hosting the website. Online reports that
reference their sources are considered more credible, much like print sources. Dates can be found at the bottom
of each page of the website, and they should be checked daily. The details given on the website of good quality
should be of good quality, and the portal should connect to trustworthy websites. Google Books is the world's first
and largest collection of free downloadable books, with over 20,000 titles now online. Shmoop is detail ed on
literature, US history, and poetry written by Ph.D. and master's students from top universities such as Stanford,
Berkeley, Harvard, and Yale. StateMaster is a one-of-a-kind statistical database that helps you to study and analyze
a wide range of data on US states from primary sources such as the US Census Bureau, FBI, and National Center
for Educational Statistics. Virtual Reference — the Library of Congress has assembled a list of online services.

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. Who are the people who have contributed to the Information Age's technical advancements?
2. What other aspects of culture are being affected by the Information Age, apart from communication?
3. What other scientific breakthroughs do you think would be made in the future?

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 EXERCISE # 9:

1. Video Presentation. Form groups of three to five people and create a multimedia presentation that reflects on the
evolution of information transmission in different parts of the world. Refer to the time intervals in Table I, which
are discussed in the topic. Members may take part in the video demonstration and use props or resources to support
the presentation. The video demonstration should be three to five minutes long. Submit your work on Google
Classroom.

2. Creative Work. Consider a computer with unique capabilities that you might create to help people in our
community live better lives. It could be something you should work on to assist with connectivity, housing, and
health care, among other things. Create a brief bond paper illustration of your unit. Show and justify your work
in our Google Classroom

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References
Babu, M. (n.d.). Integrating Bioinformatics, Medical Sciences, and Drug Discovery. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from Mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk:
https://www.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/genomes/madanm/pdfs/medinfo.pdf

Bellis, M. (2019, October 04). The History of Laptop Computers. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from ThoughtCo:
https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-laptop-computers-4066247

Bilotta, M., Tradigo, G., & Veltri, P. (2019). Bioinformatics Data Models, Representation and Storage. Encyclopedia of Bioinformatics
and Computational Biology Academic Press, 110-116. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809633-8.20410-X.

Channel3000 Staff. (2016, June 24). A Timeline: The Information Age. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from Channel3000:
https://www.channel3000.com/a-timeline-the-information-age/pic/1057540/

Christensson, P. (2006). Mainframe Definition. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from TechTerms:
https://techterms.com/definition/mainframe

Christensson, P. (2014, April 16). Server Definition. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from TechTerms:
https://techterms.com/definition/server.

Christensson, P. (2015, September 15). Internet Definition. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from TechTerms:
https://techterms.com/definition/internet

Fitzgibbons, L. (2019, February). Wearable Computer. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from IoT Agenda:
https://internetofthingsagenda.techtarget.com/definition/wearable-computer

Gauthier, J., Vincent, A. T., Charette, S. J., & Derome, N. (2019). A brief history of bioinformatics. Briefings in bioinformatics, 20(6),
1981-1996.

Lally, E. (2020). At home with computers. Routledge.

Mayer, W. (2020, October 1). Evaluating Websites. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from Lee College Library:
https://lee.libguides.com/websites

Oulas, A., Minadakis, G., Zackariou, M., Sokratous, K., Bourdakou, M. M., & Spyrou, G. M. (2019). Systems bioinformatics:
increasing precision of computational diagnostics and therapeutics through network-based approaches. Briefings in
bioinformatics, 20(3), 806-824.

Ryan, C. L., & Lewis, J. M. (2017). Computer and Internet use in the United States 2015. Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce,
Economics and Statistics Administration, US Census Bureau.

Sarikaya, R. (2017). The technology behind personal digital assistants: An overview of the system architecture and key components.
IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, 34(1), 67-81.

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Sung, E., & Mayer, R. E. (2012). Student's beliefs about mobile devices Vs. desktop computers in South Korea and United S tates.
Computers & Education, 59(4), 1328-1338.

Ullah, H. (2019, June 10). Brief History of Computer/Generation of Computer. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from khyberacademy:
https://khyberacademy.com/brief-history-of-computer/

USHistory Contributor. (1995, July 4). 60.d LIving in the Information Age. Retrieved from USHistory:
https://www.ushistory.org/us/60d.asp

Vocabulary.com. (n.d.). Information Age. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from Vocabulary.com:
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/information%20age

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LESSON 3B: BIODIVERSITY AND THE HEALTHY SOCIETY

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Determine the interconnectedness of population, climate, and wellbeing;
2. Draw a diagram that depicts the interconnectedness of organisms in forming a diverse and balanced
ecosystem without jeopardizing one another; and
3. Identify daily tasks and assess whether they lead to biodiversity and society's sustainability and health.

 CONTENT EXPLORATION:
 INTRODUCTION

Biodiversity is on the decline all over the world. Due to human factors, the number of vertebrates has declined by
60% since the 1970s. By 2020, biodiversity extinction is expected to be 67 percent of its current level. According to the
World-Wide Fund for Nature and the Zoological Society of London, biodiversity is declining by 2% each year. The human
population has doubled to 7.4 billion people since 1960, which is one of the main causes. Humans have industrialized
both ecosystems and sea life's natural habitats. Leaving these animals without a home will inevitably result in their
deaths. The extinction of biodiversity is at an alarming pace, according to Marco Lambertini, General Director of WWF
International. According to scientists, the Earth could be entering its sixth mass extinction event. Theloss of biodiversity
at a scale 1,000 times higher than average is referred to as mass extinction. Furthermore, the extinction of animals in
one area creates an ecological mismatch, resulting in more chaotic changes that affect the whole ecosystem
(Inquirer.Net, 2016).

This is merely a compelling argument for people to learn more about the value of our complex world and how
human actions can either help or hinder its development. The value of researching how culture, the environment, and
health is intertwined is increasing, as human beings' inability to consider the needs of one of those components will
influence and undermine the remaining components. As a result, it is important to be aware of the urgent
consequences of species extinction and habitat imbalance.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem

Biodiversity refers to the wide range of life forms found on the planet. From single-celled cells to the largest multi-
celled species, it includes all types of life. It is described structurally and functionally, rather than as an individual
species.

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 Another way to look at biodiversity is "the diversity of living organisms from all origins, including terrestrial, marine,
and other aquatic environments, as well as the ecological complexes to which they belong; this involves diversity within
species, within species, and within ecosystems. Biodiversity is a source of vital goods and ecological services that are
important for everyone's sustainability, and it has direct consumption importance in food, livestock, medicine, and
industry." (Lippolis, 2009)

Understanding biodiversity within the context of habitats necessitates a detailed analysis of the biotic, or living
organisms, and abiotic, or nonliving organisms' relationships. To research the environment, an interdisciplinary
approach is needed. In this natural dynamic, biodiversity plays a significant role. A large number of golden snails in a
certain area of a rice field, for example, will help forecast a low rice harvest yield because golden snail eggs are
considered a pest to rice plants. On the plus side, a greater number of different species in a given environment may
be a measure of long-term survival in that area. The ecosystem's long-term viability guarantees a higher success rate
in the event of a natural catastrophe. As a result, we, as human occupants of the ecosystem, must protect and preserve
all species' habitats.

To put it another way, people will always depend on biodiversity in the entirety of our beings and our daily lives.
More importantly, the products and resources we obtain from the environment will eventually determine our well- being.
Somehow, there are forms and mechanisms in the world that we, as humans, are not aware of or understand. Consider
the need to drink safe, freshwater, the need to consume nutritious vegetables and foods, or the need for man to travel,
which necessitates the use of gasoline.

Both of these are human desires that our ecosystem meets and fulfills. As a result, if we fail to mai ntain the
ecosystem-care process, we are putting our own lives in jeopardy. When an ecosystem's insufficiency means it can no
longer meet the physical and social needs of humans, a significant loss in biodiversity has a clear human effect. Changes
in the environment have an indirect impact on livelihood, jobs, and, on rare occasions, political confrontation (WHO,
2015).

Changes in Biodiversity

Any change in a system may have a variety of consequences. Changes in biodiversity could have unforeseen
implications not only for ecosystems and sea animals but also for humans. Humans living in the trees, for example, will
disrupt the natural order of things. The ground clearance activities where the houses would be constructed would affect
trees and plants. Animals, birds, and other forms of life in the cleared region will be displaced or, most certainly,
destroyed. The extinction of these life forms could have ramifications for the whole ecology the governs that area. The
food chain may be jeopardized. From this, we should deduce that while our environment is neglected, biodiversity
undergoes changes that could have an effect on human wellbeing on a variety of levels.

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 Threats to Biodiversity

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment Programme, 2020) has listed the following
significant threats to biodiversity: The following are some of them:

1. Habitat degradation and loss. The presence of humans and the use of land for economic benefit are significant
contributing factors.

2. Changes in the ecosystem's structure. Alterations and abrupt transitions within specific communities or in the
climate have the potential to disrupt whole habitats. Ecosystem transitions are a significant contributor to the
decline of biodiversity and habitat destruction.

3. Excessive manipulation Excessive hunting, fishing, or collection of a species will easily contribute to its extinction.
Human eating habits are often cited as a major contributor to the wasteful use of natural capital.

4. Contamination and pollution Biological processes are sluggish to react to changes in their environments. Pollution
and pollution damage plants and varieties in a permanent way.

5. Climate change around the world. Biodiversity depletion is caused by both climate instability and climate change.
If species and ecosystems are not given adequate time to adapt to evolving climatic conditions, they may become
extinct.

Consequences of Biodiversity Loss

Even with current technological and scientific advancements, there is still much to learn about biodiversity,
including the effects of biodiversity loss. The fundamental definition of biodiversity depletion, on the other hand, comes
from Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

Intact ecosystems perform well and the species that make up the environment are specialized to absorb, move,
use, and gradually waste all resources and nutrients. The organisms that make up an ecosystem impact its growth,
nutrient cycles, and soil composition, as well as non-biotic factors including water cycles, weather patterns, and
temperature. The depletion of biodiversity has some effects, some of which we are conscious of and others which we
are not. Humanity can tolerate a substantial loss of biodiversity in return for social benefits; we hope these benefits are
net. In certain cases, the gains seem to benefit only a few people, resulting in a net social loss. However, estimating the
potential risks of habitat losses or environmental degradation is incredibly complicated (Perrings & Kinzig, 2019).

Tilman puts it this way: "Only if we have the foresight to do so can the Earth's most striking attribute, biodiversity,
be preserved. This, it seems, will only happen if we know how much nature we use (Perrings & Kinzig, 2019)

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Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity

Biodiversity, according to the World Health Organization, is a critical component of human nutrition due to its
effect on food security. Biodiversity is an important element in human food sustainability that can be sustained. As a
determinant of their wellbeing as human beings, a culture or a community must have access to an adequate range of
healthy food.

The habitat, with food processing as an ecosystem service; the animals in the environment; and the genetic diversity
among organisms are all related to nutrition and biodiversity. The nutritional content of foods, as well as between
varieties/cultivars/breeds of the same food, can vary significantly, influencing micronutrient availability in the diet. The
conservation of high biodiversity levels is necessitated by healthy local diets with sufficient average levels of nutritional
intake. Irrigation, fertilizer use, plant defense (pesticides), and the development of crop varieties and cropping
patterns all affect biodiversity and thus affect global nutritional status and human health. Habitat simplification,
habitat decline, and species succession often increase populations' susceptibility to ill health as a result of environmental
receptivity (Word Health Organization, 2007).

Biodiversity, health, and biology Almost all living beings depend on their surroundings to survive and replicate. The
ecosystem offers essential requirements for living beings such as climate, water, shelter, and habitat. Access to these
essential needs increased over time, allowing humans to evolve. Agriculture, sanitation, water management, and
hygiene advances have had much greater effects on public health than medical science.

While the environment is important for human survival, it may also be a source of disease. Human death is
exacerbated by a lack of critical needs.

Cancer is made more likely by environmental causes. Heart disease, diabetes, and some other diseases are only
a few examples. Physical risks, such as pollutants, dangerous substances, and food pollutants, or social dangers, such as
unsafe jobs, inadequate housing conditions, urban sprawl, and crime, are instances. Infecti ous diseases such as
schistosomiasis, diarrhea, cholera, meningitis, and gastritis are caused by polluted drinking water and inadequate
sanitation and hygiene. In 2015, nearly 350,000 children under the age of five died from diarrheal diseases caused by
polluted drinking water (mostly in the developed world), and approximately 1.8 billion people drank feces-
contaminated water. About two billion people did not have access to basic sanitation.

The connection between human health and biological diversity is extensive and intricate. With alarming rates of
biodiversity destruction, the precarious equilibrium between human wellbeing and biological diversity is jeopardized.

Environment-Related Illnesses

Parkinson's disease, respiratory disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension,
diabetes, obesity, workplace trauma, dysentery, arthritis, malaria, and depression are some of the human diseases

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attributed to the environment. Activities that foster fitness and prolong human life, on the other hand, can have negative
environmental consequences. Pesticides and fertilizers, soil salinization, agricultural waste, greenhouse pollution from
food processing and shipping, erosion, and overfishing are all examples of environmental degradation caused by food
production. Health-care services hurt the community as well. Hospitals use a lot of energy and fossil fuels and generate
a lot of medical waste. It could be important to change the climate to deter any diseases. In the 1940s and 1950s, for
example, malaria was eradicated in the United States and other developing countries by clearing wetlands and spraying
DDT to eliminate mosquitoes. Overpopulation, which strains the atmosphere in several ways— increasing the use of
fossil fuels, clearing land, producing emissions and waste, and so on—can result from a decrease in mortality
attributable to famine or disease (Resnik, 2012).

Climate change, according to scientists, may have a major effect on human wellbeing, deteriorate agricultural
processes, and reduce the nutrients in certain foods. In this situation, biodiversity boosts tolerance, making it easier
to adapt to changing environmental circumstances. Coral reefs, for example, are critical for reducing flood risk because
this amazing habitat will mitigate wave energy by 97 percent, saving over 100 million people around the world. Human-
environment relationships create a slew of ethical, societal, and legal quandaries by asking individuals to choose
between contrasting beliefs. Many of the challenges at the crossroads of health and the environment revolve a round
the management of benefits and costs. Pesticides, for example, play an important role in growing crop yields whil e still
posing health and environmental threats. Alternatives to pesticide use result in health trade-offs. Stopping all pesticide
usage would have a major effect on-farm production, resulting in food scarcity and higher food costs, which would raise
malnutrition in certain parts of the world. To increase food quality while minimizing risk to the environment and human
health, public health agencies have preferred to control pesticide use. Energy production and use are important for
human safety, but they can also pose threats to human health and the climate, such as air and water contamination, oil
spills, and habitat loss (Rensik & Portier, 2017). No topic necessitates a more intensive analysis of gains and
consequences than global warming. The human production of greenhouse gases is responsible for a large portion of
global climate change. Climate change is expected to have catastrophic implications for the atmosphere and public
health, but dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could have negative consequences for the economic,
national, and local economies. Increased taxes on fossil fuels, for example, would stimulate greater fuel consumption
and lower carbon dioxide emissions, but it would also raise the cost of transportation, resulting in widespread inflation
and decreased consumer purchasing power. Managing rewards and costs poses questions of social justice. People of a
lower socioeconomic background are more likely to be exposed to hazardous environmental hazards in their households
or workplaces, such as lead, arsenic, toxins, poisonous substances, or air and water contamination. To reduce social
effects, cities and nations should strategically select a location for a warehouse, a power plant, or a waste dump, or
control occupational safety. People who would be impacted by environmental risks should have a voice in these
discussions and be able to express their views in an equal, transparent, and democratic manner (Resnik, 2012).

It is important to remember disadvantaged subpopulations when drafting and enforcing environmental health
regulations. A sensitive subpopulation is more susceptible to the negative consequences of an environmental risk factor
because of their age, genetics, health status, or other factors. If an environmental regulation is intended to

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protect the average citizen of the population, vulnerable subpopulations will be left unprotected. We must take care of
those who are marginalized as a matter of justice. Almost everybody, though, is more susceptible to at least one
environmental risk factor than the general public. Since extending additional security to all will be both wastef ul and
unrealistic, safeguards must be enforced with caution, and the communities most vulnerable to a given environmental
risk factor must be specifically identified (Resnik, 2012).

Furthermore, various public policy policies, such as forced care, vaccine, or medical testing; segregation and
quarantine; and epidemic control, pit the interests of people against the good of the community. A coal-burning power
plant's owner must comply with a slew of regulations regulating the plant's operation, occupational safety, and carbon
emissions. Storm drains, water and sewer pipes, gas lines, sidewalks, and other laws can apply to a developer who wants
to construct 150 new homes on property he has bought. Property rights restrictions are justified to protect public health
and the environment. Opponents to these prohibitions, on the other hand, contend that they are often
unnecessary or insufficiently validated by empirical facts (Resnik, 2012).

Human rights questions arise as human beings are used in public health studies. Human subjects must give their
permission for any experiments to be legal, and careful consideration must be taken to ensure that they recognize their
right to opt-out of the study. Any pesticide producers have been researching their drugs on humans since the late 1990s
to obtain evidence to send to the government for regulatory purposes. Any critics argue that these studies are immoral
because they put individuals in an unacceptable amount of danger without providing a direct advantage to society.
Others also suggested that, if correctly planned and applied, the tests could provide significant advantages to society
by supplying valuable information about pesticide effects, leading to stronger regulations (Rensik & Portier, 2017). With
these considerations in mind, a mitigating strategy and a workable plan of action should be investigated to conserve
biodiversity while simultaneously encouraging good health in society.

SUMMARY

By 2020, biodiversity extinction is expected to be 67 percent of its current level. The human population has doubled
to 7.4 billion people since 1960, which is one of the main causes. Biodiversity is a source of vital goods and ecological
services that are important for everyone's sustainability. To research the environment, an interdisciplinary approach is
needed to understand how culture, environment, and health are intertwined. The extinction of animals in one area
creates an ecological mismatch, resulting in chaotic changes that affect the whole ecosystem. The loss of biodiversity
at a scale 1,000 times higher than average is referred to as mass extinction.

People will always depend on biodiversity in the entirety of our beings and our daily lives. A significant loss in
biodiversity has a clear human effect. Changes in the environment have an indirect impact on livelihood, jobs, and, on
rare occasions, political confrontation. The presence of humans and the use of land for economic benefit are significant
contributing factors. Human eating habits are often cited as a major contributor to the wasteful use of natural capital.
Human hunting, fishing, or collection of a species will easily contribute to its extinction. The United Nations

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 Environment Programme has listed the following significant threats to biodiversity: The following are some of them:
habitat degradation and loss.

Biodiversity depletion is caused by both climate instability and climate change writes Tilman. Biodiversity is a
critical component of human nutrition due to its effect on food security. The depletion of biodiversity has several effects,
some of which we are conscious of and others which we aren't. The conservation of high biodiversity levels is
necessitated by healthy local diets with sufficient average levels of nutritional intake, he says. The WHO says Habitat
simplification, habitat decline, and species succession often increase populations' susceptibility to ill health as a result of
environmental receptivity, Tilman writes.

The ecosystem offers essential requirements for living beings such as climate, water, shelter, and habitat.
Agriculture, sanitation, water management, and hygiene advances have had greater effects on public health than
medical science. Human death is exacerbated by a lack of critical needs. Cancer is made more likely by environment al
causes. Activities that foster fitness and prolong human life, on the other hand, can have negative environmental
consequences. It could be important to change the climate to deter any diseases. The connection between human health
and biological diversity is extensive and intricate, writes Zain Verjee.

Biodiversity boosts tolerance, making it easier to adapt to changing environmental circumstances. Coral reefs, for
example, are critical for reducing flood risk. Managing rewards and costs poses questions of social justice, writes Zain
Verjee. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions could have negative consequences for the economic, national, and local
economies. People who would be impacted by environmental risks should have a voice in these discussions, Verjee
writes, and should be able to express their views in an equal, transparent, and democratic manner.

It is important to remember disadvantaged subpopulations when drafting and enforcing environmental health
regulations. Almost everybody is more susceptible to at least one environmental risk factor than the general public.
Forced care, vaccines, or medical testing pit the interests of people against the good of the community. Human rights
questions arise as human beings are used in public health studies, authors say. They argue that these studies are immoral
because they put individuals in an unacceptable amount of danger. However, some argue that they could provide
valuable information about pesticide effects.

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. How can you balance the growing needs of humans in terms of wellbeing with the need to preserve
biodiversity's growth?
2. Can you believe the Planet will continue to exist without human intervention? Or does biodiversity
necessitate the intervention of humans to continue to grow?
3. What are some little aspects that you believe will help to save our biodiversity? What do you believe
the most popular human behaviors are that threaten biodiversity? What would be the ramifications
if these human actions were to be halted and outlawed?

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  EXERCISE # 10:
1. Advocacy writing. In a form of writing that is used to present an argument. Create a group of five,
collaborate, and come up with advocacy that you feel is timely, considering that biodiversity is
collapsing and suffering just to provide our basic needs for life in this country. Submit your work on
our Google Classroom.

2. Concept Mapping. Make a list of many definitions that biodiversity benefits society or humans.
Enumerate the many difficulties and drawbacks that biodiversity faces as we work to obtain the
gains on the other side of the circle. List potential approaches and solutions for obtaining these
advantages and needs without jeopardizing biodiversity's development mechanism on the space
where the two circles intersect.

References
Inquirer.Net. (2016, November 05). Living Planet report: WWF paints dire picture for survival of the species. Retrieved March 17, 2021,
from Inquirer.net: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/841255/living-planet-report-wwf-paints-dire-picture-for-survival-of-the-
species

Lippolis, I. (2009, January 10). Biodiversity Is the Life Insurance of Life Itself. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from Villaggio Globale:
https://www.vglobale.it/2009/01/10/biodiversity-is-the-life-insurance-of-life-itself/

Resnik, D. B. (2012). Environmental Health Ethics. Cambridge University Press. doi:https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139161848

UN Environment Programme. (2020, January 28). Biodiversity in grave danger: what can be done in 2020? Retrieved March 17, 2021,
from United Nations Environment Programme: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/biodiversity-grave-
danger-what-can-be-done-2020

WHO. (2015, June 3). Biodiversity and Health. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/biodiversity-and-health

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LESSON 3C: GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS: SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND
POLITICS

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.Identify issues on the genetically modified organism (GMOs);
2.Discuss different implications and impact of GMOs; and
3. Create a research paper on the impact of GMOs in the Philippine context.

 CONTENT EXPLORATION:
 INTRODUCTION
Rosalie Ellasus, a former overseas Filipino worker turned farmer in Singapore, attended the Integrated Pest
Management — Farmers Field School in 2001 and learned about Bt Corn, a genetically engineered corn resistant to
the disruptive Asian corn borer. Ms. Ellasus offered to assist with demo testing in her area. In contrast to a standard
yield of 4.2 tons per hectare, Bt Corn yielded 7.2 tons per acre. There was no reason to spray insecticides. This is an
example of a GMO's (genetically modified organisms) success story (Ongkiko, 2016).

Since the advent of selective breeding and the domestication of cattle, genetic modification has become a part of
human culture. The mechanism of genetic changes, on the other hand, is almost normal. Jack Williamson, the author
of the science fiction novel Dragon's Island, invented the word genetic modification in 1951. (Stableford 2004).

Years passed until real research results on the role of DNA in heredity and its function, Watson and Crick's double-
helix, were published. Genetic research was no longer confined to science fiction novels as a result of a never-ending
quest for advancement. In science laboratories, it became a reality. The systematic alteration of an organism's
chromosomes, which can include the transition of genes from other organisms, is the general method of genetic
modification.

In 1973, an antibiotic-resistant E. coli bacterium was created. GMO research is also underway, such as using
genetically engineered male mosquitos as a pest control against female Zika virus carriers. Despite the many
opportunities for finding answers to challenges and opening doors to new ideas, genetic modification is met with a lot
of criticism. Opponents of genetic modification and GMOs pose ethical, societal, and environmental questions.

This lesson would discuss the use of genetic modification, primarily GMOs, in various aspects of life, their effect
on humanity, and the debates that surround them.

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Genetically Modified Organism

An organism developed by genetic modification is referred to as a genetically modified organism (GMO). GMO is
described as an "organism, either plant, animal, or microorganism, in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered
in a way that does not occur normally through mating or natural recombination," according to the World Health
Organization (WHO, 2014). The diagram below illustrates how a bacterial gene is inserted into plant cells and tissues
through genetic modification to grow and breed a genetically modified plant.

Figure 16. The process of genetic modification through isolation of a gene and insertion
into the genetic sequence of a host organism (Genetic Engineering [Diagram of Gene Modification], 2013)

GMOs are believed to contribute to scientific advancement and the sake of humans in a variety of industries,
including agriculture and medicine.

GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries

GMOs play the following roles in the food and agriculture sectors, according to the Center for Ecogenetics and
Environmental Health (CEEH, 2013):

1. Plants that have been genetically engineered to withstand such pests are known as pest resistance.

Bt Corn is an example. The Bt Corn's DNA (genome) has been altered to contain a gene from
Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium that produces proteins that are poisonous to corn borers
(worms).

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 Figure 17. Philippine Genetically Modified (GM) Corn (Fernandez, 2018)

2. Virus resistance — plants that have been genetically engineered to resist such viruses.

GM papaya, also known as rainbow papaya, is an example. PRSV (Papaya Ringspot Virus) is a
virus that causes damage to papaya plants. The PRSV protein was added to the papaya plant by plant
tissue that turned out to be virus-resistant. The result was similar to that of human vaccines against
the measles or influenza virus.

Figure 18. GMO Papaya (Rainbow Papaya) (Held, 2016)

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3. Resistance to herbicides: genetically engineered plants that can withstand herbicides.

Roundup Ready soybeans are an example. Glyphosate, a plant killer, was applied to soybeans,
rendering them resistant to the herbicide. Farmers will then apply the herbicide, which would kill
the weeds but leave the soybeans alone.

4. Fortification - genetically engineered plants that have had some minerals added to them.

Golden Rice is a good example. The rice grains were fortified with vitamin A after beta-carotene, a
precursor to vitamin A, was added to the rice via biosynthesis genes.

5. Genetically engineered plants are resistant to natural discoloration, making them ideal for cosmetic
preservation.

Arctic Apple is a good example. The apple variety was genetically engineered to prevent the fruit
from browning due to superficial injury.

6. Increased growth rate - a genetically engineered organism with a higher growth yield than non-
modified organisms.

AquAdvantage salmon is an example. A gene from an eel-like fish called an ocean pout was added
to Pacific Chinook salmon, causing it to evolve at a faster pace than normal.

Figure 19. AquAdvantage Salmon (Lewis, 2015)

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GMOs in Non-Food Crops and Microorganisms

Non-food crops and certain microorganisms that have been genetically engineered (GMOs) include:

1. Flower production — GMOs in flower production can be seen in the hue of the flowers, as well as the length of
time they last in the vase.

Blue Roses are an example. The so-called "blue" flowers, which are lilac or purple, contained cyanidin 3,5-
diglucoside as well as flavanols in significant quantities. When the flavonoid 31, 51-hydroxylase gene is introduced into
pelargonidin- or cyanidin-producing rose cultivars, the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway is diverted to the development
of delphinidin glucosides, resulting in blue flower color (Elomaa & Holton, 1994)

2. Paper processing — trees with altered characteristics to increase paper yield.

Poplar trees, for instance, are a good example. Lignin is a complex polymer found in trees that is stripped from wood
to produce paper by the kraft process. By injecting genes that code for ferulic acid into young poplar trees, the
composition of lignin is altered, rendering it easy to break down (Vezina, 2014).

3. Pharmaceutical manufacturing — plants that have been genetically engineered to make pharmaceuticals.

Periwinkle plants are one example. Bacterial genes were applied to the periwinkle plant to boost the development of
vinblastine, an alkaloid often used in cancer medications such as Hodgkin's lymphoma therapies (Runguphan, Qu, &
O'connor, 2010).

Figure 20. Periwinkle Plant a.k.a. Vinca Plant

4. Bioremediation — the use of genetically engineered organisms to aid in the bioremediation of polluted areas.

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Shrub tobacco is an example. For bioremediation, Nicotiana glauca, shrub tobacco genetically engineered with
phytochelatin TaPCSI1, is used. It accumulates high levels of zinc, iron, cadmium, nickel, and boron and contains a lot
of biomass.

Figure 21. Nicotiana Glauca Plant

5. Enzyme and drug manufacturing — the use of genetically engineered microorganisms to manufacture enzymes for
food processing and pharmaceuticals.

CGTase is a good example of this. Bacillus, which was genetically engineered with the gene of a thermophile
anaerobe, Thermoanaerobacter, carrying CGTase, produces more of the enzyme cyclomaltodextrin glycosyltransferase
(CGTase), which is used to improve food taste (Pedersen, Jensen, & Jorgensen, 1995).

Figure 22. Thermoanaerobacter (JGI Genome Portal, n.d.)

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 Artemesia is another example. Artemisinin acid is a chemical derived from the sweet wordwood plant that is used
to make anti-malarial drugs. It can be synthesized by yeast and bacteria with the delicious wordwood plant gene using
genetic engineering (Zimmer, 2006).

6. GMOs in medicine — genetic engineering is becoming increasingly important in the diagnosis and treatment of
human diseases. It aids in drug development, gene therapy, and laboratory testing.

Humulin, a genetically modified insulin used by Type 1 diabetes patients who are insulin-dependent, is a classic
example. Insulin has previously been derived from the pancreases of pigs and calves, which has resulted in allergic
responses in certain diabetics. Human insulin was first generated in 1978 by researchers from the City of Hope National
Medical Center and Genetech Biotechnology Company. The insulin gene was incorporated into bacterial DNA, which was
able to produce insulin that was almost equivalent to human insulin. This marked a significant step forward in the mass
production of human insulin. Humalog, modified human insulin, was approved in 1996.

Figure 23. Humulin R U-500 insulin human injection (Humulin R, n.d.)

Benefits of GMOs

Any of the possible advantages of GMOs have been shown in studies:

 Higher agricultural productivity — when using pesticide-resistant/herbicide-tolerant GMO crops, fewer

herbicides/pesticides will be used, and labor and production costs will be reduced.

 Increased yield — GMO crops that are resistant to pests and diseases have a higher propensity for
development and harvest.

 Controlling fertility allows higher yields by controlling the integrity of hybrid seeds (GMO seeds).

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  Food production improves as a result of the altered properties of GMO crops.

 Longer shelf life, improved color, and taste increased enzyme synthesis or elimination, and other changed
characteristics of plants, animals, and microorganisms are all possible with GMOs.

 GMO crops fortified with lysine and Golden Rice fortified with vitamin A and iron are examples of dietary
and medicinal enhancement. For infectious and diarrheal infections, there are now edible vaccines.

 Reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides

There are more than 400 million acres of GMO farms on the planet. The United States, Brazil, Argentina, India, and
Canada are the top five countries with GMO farmlands. Alfalfa, maize, papaya, soya bean, sugar beets, and squash are
some of the GMO crops that have been approved for public consumption and are already on the market. The majority
of these GMO crops have been engineered to be pest-resistant. Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Ultra
Slim Easy, Quaker Yellow Corn Meal, and Alpo Dry Pet Food are some examples of GMO-containing foods. There is current
research in the animal industries, such as studies on Pacific salmon that grows twice as quickly as native salmon and
chicken that is immune to H5N1 bird flu viruses. These GMO animals, on the other hand, are all in research labs and
have not yet been licensed for general use.

Potential Risks of GMOs

Despite GMOs' promising assertions, critics argue that they are harmful. Studies also identified a correlation
between the adaptation of pesticide-resistant GMO crops and the substantial growth of superweeds that have also
become pesticide-resistant. More than 12 million acres of farmland in the United States were affected as a result of
this.

Adversaries of GMOs have the following major concerns:

1. There is limited research on the impact of GMOs on humans and the environment since genetic modification
is already a new branch of science.
2. The genetic modification enables evolution in species, with uncertain long-term effects.

GMO intake by humans may have the following consequences:

 More allergic reactions - As a result of the gene modification, GMO food can cause more allergic reactions,
or even produce new ones.

 GMO food can produce abnormalities and mutations in addition to the intended product of the gene change.

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  Antibiotic resistance - Since GMO foods contain antibiotic-resistant genes, disease-causing bacteria are likely
to become more antibiotic-resistant as well, raising the risk of disease transmission.

 Nutritional value - The nutritional value of GMO foods will shift.

Potential Environmental Risks Caused by GMOs

(Bawa & Anilakumar, 2013) summarized the perceived potential environmental risks caused by GMOs. The
identified major risks are the following:

1. Gene flow risk — there is a possibility that the transformed gene will be transmitted from the GMO crop to
a wild relative or organism in the soil of the human intestine (when ingested). A rotting GMO plant, for
example, may potentially transfer transformed genes to soil bacteria and fungi. Bacteria and fungi can use
genetic material from their environment. There hasn't been any research on the impact of the ingested
mutated gene on other species yet.

2. Emergence of new forms of resistance and secondary pest and weed issues — GMO crops resistant to some
pesticides may result in the emergence of new forms of pest resistance, while GMO herbicide-tolerant crops
may result in the overuse of herbicides, resulting in the emergence of new forms of weed resistance.

3. Virus and Bacterial Recombination to Produce New Viruses — the transformed gene may be converted and
inserted into viral or bacterial genomes, resulting in viral or bacterial gene change or mutation. This living
transformed virus and bacteria could then spread to other organisms, including humans, and cause new
diseases.

Other GMO-related overt and indirect environmental threats (Molfino & Zucco, 2008):

1. Direct threats to the environment

 The introduction of GMOs into the natural environment can destroy natural ecosystems due to
competition or interference;
 the possibility of unintended activity of GMOs in the environment if they escape their intended use
and become threats or pests;
 the possibility of adverse effects on ecological processes if GMOs interfere with natural biochemical
cycles; and
 the presence of GMOs in the environment if they escape their intended use and become pests.

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 2. Indirect environmental risks are:

 Changes in farming activities, such as addressing the detrimental effects of GMOs on the climate,
such as the evolution of rodents, bugs, and weeds resistant to GMO crops;
 A change in agricultural practices may affect biodiversity; and
 Because of the presence and release of GMOs in the natural world, they can have a range of
environmental consequences.

Potential Human Health Risks caused by GMOs

The impact of GMOs on humans, especially human health, is a major concern in their use and consumption. Any
human health threats have been identified (Akhter, Qutub, Burnham, & Akhtar, 2001), including:

 Since GMOs are not created spontaneously or organically, they can have negative consequences when
consumed.

 GMO consumption can disrupt the natural balance of microorganisms in the human digestive system;

 Toxin processing can be harmful to human health; and

 Humans can be affected by the development of allergens.

Many organizations around the world are campaigning against the use of GMOs. They advise consumers to avoid
buying GMO items and to scan labels carefully to see if the food they purchase contains GMO ingredients. The
Supreme Court of the Philippines has ruled against the use of Bt eggplant, another genetically modified crop (Nonato,
2016).

Some hidden threats to be wary of include:

 Human Genome Project (HGP) — Mapping human genomes to provide a foundation for medical study and
studies. It was feared that the potential to generate human genetic material would lead to biases and grant
those with the information disproportionate control, to the detriment of those who did not.

 Mutation of genetically engineered microorganisms — Genetically modified bacteria and viruses may
mutate to become more resistant or virulent, posing a greater risk of human disease.

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  Cloning is the method of reproducing an organism asexually by using a parent cell and genetic modification.
Dolly, a Scottish cow, was the first animal to be born from cloning on February 24, 1997. With its well-
publicized popularity arose concerns about human cloning. The ethical dilemma of man "playing God"
surfaced. Scientists and medical experts will certainly continue to look for new approaches to sustain life. One
of the main components of this endeavor is genetic modification. Gene therapy and gene editing are two
promising paths to improving human health.

On the other hand, in the course of this journey, great fears loom. There are several factors to consider before
accepting a particular application of genetic engineering. The World Health Organization's findings corroborated these
fears. Three main concerns surrounding GMOs have been described by the WHO as having the ability to cause allergic
reactions in international public debates. Allergic reactions, gene transfer/flow, and outcrossing are all possible threats
(WHO, 2014). The main point of contention in the national debate over GMOs is their abnormal creation, or what is
referred to as a breach of nature. The existence of new species, such as GMOs, raises ethical concerns about defying
natural rules. Another source of worry is the future threats to the climate and human health, in which there is also a
lot of uncertainty.

Biosafety on GMOs

There are measures in motion to shield the general public from the risks and issues associated with genetically
modified organisms (GMOs). International bodies have formulated rules and treaties to guarantee the biosafety of
genetically modified organisms. The following are some of these initiatives:

Agricultural Agency Codex Alimentarius Committee (Codex). The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established
by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) (Codex). Codex
Alimentarius, also known as the International Food Code, is an intergovernmental organization that produces the Codex
Alimentarius. Codex is in charge of developing food quality standards, rules of conduct, protocols, and guidance. With
the urgent problems and questions around GM05, Codex developed principles for the risk analysis of genetically modified
(GM) food products for human health in 2003. Pre-market assessment of GM food products and evaluationof direct
and indirect results are among the concepts. The Codex Principles, however, have a little definitive impact on national
legislation; however, by the World Trade Organization's sanitary and phytosanitary measures, national legislatures
are urged to supplement their national guidelines with the Codex Principles (WHO, 2014).

Biosafety Protocol of Cartagena The Cartagena Protocol, which was established in 2003, is an international
environmental treaty that governs the transboundary transport of Living Modified Organisms (LM0s). Until shipping out
the first shipment of LMOs, exporters must receive approval from importers under the Cartagena Protocol (WHO, 2014).

Labeling of GM foods and agricultural products is protected under an international trade deal. The arrangement
allows GM food and food product exporters to label their goods and gives importing parties the option of rejecting or

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accepting the GM products. Consumers have the right to educate and the ability to choose between GM and non-GM
goods, according to the policy's assumption (Whitman, 2000). According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2014),
all GM goods sold on the international market have undergone national safety assessments. The environmental and
health risk factors are mostly included in the safety evaluations, and food safety is generally governed by the Codex Food
Code.

GMOs in Philippine Context

GMOs are introduced in our country, causing problems and controversy comparable to those seen in other GMO-
producing countries. Of note, there are supporters and critics from all sides of the debate.

The National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) was formed in the 1990s in response to Executive
Order No. 430 of 1990, which established the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines. In 1998, the NCBP
published recommendations for the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and potentially invasive
exotic animals. Administrative Order No. 8, a regulation for the importation and release of GM plants and plant products
into the world, was issued by the Department of Agriculture in 2002. Importation of GMOs began in the same year
(Baumuller, 2003). When GM corn planting was legalized in 2002, the Philippines made history as the first Asian country
to allow commercial production of GMOs (Serapio & Dela Cruz, 2016).

The Department of Agriculture has accepted 70 GMO applications for release to the atmosphere since December
2002. Sixty-two GMOs have been approved for use in fruit, feed, and refining, while the remaining eight have been
approved for propagation (Aruelo, 2016).

The Philippines was named one of the fourteen biotech super countries that produce 50,000 hectares or more of
GMO crops annually by the International Service for the Procurement of Agricultural Biotech Applications in 2004.
(James, 2004). Senator Juan Flavier introduced legislation in the same year mandating the labeling of GMO foods and
goods. The bill was rejected by the Senate. The Philippines joined the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2006, making
it the first Asian nation to do so. The Cartagena Protocol's biosafety requirements and the establishment of the National
Biosafety System were resolved by Executive Order No. 514, which was issued the same year (NBF).

The Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 was signed into law, promoting organic agriculture over GMO-based
agriculture. Several provinces, including Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, had agreed to promote organic
agriculture before the passage of this law. In 2005, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between the two
provinces, resulting in the creation of the Negros Organic Island. The two provinces were able to use this MOA to pass
provincial ordinances banning the incorporation of GMOs and live GMOs into their jurisdictions. The Organic
Agriculture Ordinance was passed in Davao City in 2010, which is similar to this situation. This city ordinance aids in the
prevention of GM Bt eggplant field research on the University of the Philippines Mindanao campus (Aruelo, 2016).

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 Representative Teddy Casino, along with other members of Congress, introduced legislation in 2012 to require the
labeling of genetically modified foods and products. There is currently no biosafety legislation in the Philippines;
instead, biosafety regulations have been developed under the National Biosafety System.

According to a review of the Philippines' biosafety laws, the new regulations are inadequate and can be improved
by legislation such as a republic act (Richmond, 2006). The Supreme Court ruled Administrative Order No. 8, series of
2002 of the Department of Agriculture null and void in December 2015, putting an end to field research of GMO Bt
eggplant.

This ensures that all acts or activities relating to GMO importation and dissemination are temporarily halted pending
the issuance of a new administrative order in compliance with the legislation.

The Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government issued Joint
Department Circular No. 1, series of 2016 on rules and regulations for research and development, handling and use, and
transboundary transportation on March 7, 2016. This joint department circular clears the way for new licenses to be
released for the planting and import of genetically modified crops in the world.

SUMMARY

Jack Williamson, the author of the science fiction novel Dragon's Island, invented the word genetic modification
in 1951. In 1973, an antibiotic-resistant E. coli bacterium was created. GMO research is also underway, such as using
genetically engineered male mosquitos as a pest control against female virus carriers. Opponents of genetic
modification pose ethical, societal, and environmental questions about the benefits and negative effects of GMOs. The
author argues that genetic modification has become a part of human culture since the advent of selective breeding and
the domestication of cattle.

GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries play the following roles in the food and agriculture sectors, according
to the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health (CEEH, 2013): Pest resistance. Virus resistance. Plant resistance
to herbicides. Fortification. Increased growth rate. A gene from an eel-like fish called an ocean pout was added to
Pacific Chinook salmon, causing it to evolve at a faster pace than normal. Flower production. The color of flowers can
be seen in the hue of the flowers, as well as the length of time they last in the vase. Arctic Apple. The apple variety was
genetically engineered to prevent the fruit from browning due to superficial injury.

Paper processing — trees with altered characteristics to increase paper yield. 3. Pharmaceutical manufacturing
— plants that have been genetically engineered to make pharmaceuticals. 4. Bioremediation — the use of genetically
engineered organisms to aid in the bioremediating of polluted areas. 5. GMOs in medicine — genetic engineering is
becoming increasingly important in the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. There are more than 400 million
acres of GMO farms on the planet. Alfalfa, maize, papaya, soya bean, sugar beets, and squash are some of the GMO

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 crops that have been approved for public consumption and are already on the market. Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Quaker
Chewy Granola Bars, Ultra Slim Easy, and Quaker Yellow Corn Meal are some examples of GMO-containing foods. There
is limited research on the impact of GMOs on humans and the environment since genetic modification is already a new
branch of science.

GMO food can cause more allergic reactions, or even produce new ones. The nutritional value of GMO foods will
shift. There is the possibility that the transformed gene will be transmitted from the GMO crop to a wild relative or
organism in the soil of the human intestine. GMO crops resistant to some pesticides may result in the emergence of new
forms of pest resistance. The introduction of GMOs into the natural environment can destroy natural ecosystems due to
competition or interference. The presence of GMOs in the environment if they escape their intended use and become
pests.

The impact of GMOs on humans, especially human health, is a major concern in their use and consumption. Many
organizations around the world are campaigning against the use of GMO 10. Some hidden threats to be wary of
include the Human Genome Project, which maps human genomes. Genetically modified bacteria and viruses may mutate
to become more resistant or virulent, posing a greater risk of human disease. The main point of contention in the
national debate over GMOs is their abnormal creation, or what is referred to as a breach of nature. The future threat is
the future threats to the climate and human health.

International bodies have formulated rules and treaties to guarantee the biosafety of genetically modified
organisms. The Philippines made history as the first Asian country to allow commercial production of GMOs. According
to the World Health Organization, all GM goods sold on the international market have undergone national safety
assessments. Consumers have the right to educate and the ability to choose between GM and non-GM goods,
according to the policy's assumption, says the policy. The National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippine s (NCBP)
was formed in the 1990s in response to Executive Order No. 430 of 1990. The NCBP published recommendations for the
introduction of GM plants and plant products in 1998.

The Department of Agriculture has accepted 70 GMO applications for release to the atmosphere since December
2002. The Philippines joined the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2006, making it the first Asian nation to do so. The
Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 was signed into law, promoting organic agriculture over GMO-based agriculture. The
Supreme Court ruled Administrative Order No. 8, series of 2002 null and void in December 2015, putting an end to field
research of GMO BT eggplant. The joint department circular clears the way for new licenses to be released for the
planting and import of genetically modified crops in the world.

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. How can you balance the benefits and risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for humans?
2. When do you think GMO studies should come to an end?
3. Is genetic modification a purely experimental experiment or is it a human attempt to imitate God?

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  EXERCISE #11:

1. Agree or Disagree. Discuss the following subjects because of your own opinions. Prepare yourself into groups
depending on your points of view (If you agree or disagree). Prepare pointers for your conversation within your club.
After that, challenge the opposing party and begin a debate.
Topics include:
a. The use of genetically engineered animal milk for human infants.
b. Economic considerations around GM foods and agricultural products outweigh philosophical concerns.
2. Research Work. Write a research paper about one of the following subjects regarding the effects of GMOs:
a. The International Rice Research Institute's Golden Rice.
b. A genetically engineered organism produced by researchers in the Philippines
c. biosafety measures in the Philippines

References
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of Saudi Medicine), 21(3-4), 161-164. Retrieved from https://www.annsaudimed.net/doi/full/10.5144/0256-
4947.2001.161

Aruelo, L. (2016, May). Philippines GMO-Free Zones: Successful Roots in Organic Policy and Law. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from GMO-Free
Regions: https://www.gmo-free-regions.org/fileadmin/files/gmo-free-regions/Philippines/The_Philippines_GMO-
Free_Zones.pdf

Baumuller, H. (2003). Domestic import regulations for genetically modified organisms and their compatibility with WTO rules.
Trade Knoweldge Network, 13-15.

Bawa, A. S., & Anilakumar, K. R. (2013). Genetically modified foods: safety, risks and public concerns - A review. ęournal of Food
Science and Technology, 50(6), 1035-1046.

Elomaa, P., & Holton, T. (1994). Modification of flower colour using genetic engineering. Biotechnology and genetic engineering
reviews, 12(1), 63-88.

Fernandez, R. (2018, July 15). Philippine Star Global. Retrieved from GM corn aids Philippine self-sufficiency:
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Genetic Engineering [Diagram of Gene Modification]. (2013). Retrieved from Oregon State University Website:
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Held, E. (2016, June 14). How GMO Technology Saved the Papaya. Retrieved from Food Insight: https://foodinsight.org/how-gmo-
technology-saved-the-papaya/

James, C. (2004). Executive Summary No. 32-2004: Preview Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops. Retrieved March 17, 2021,
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http://english.biosafety.gov.cn/forum_9641/201602/W020160202488738705940.pdf

Molfino, F., & Zucco, F. (2008). Women in biotechnology. Creating interfaces, Dordrecht. Retrieved from
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-1-4020-8611-3

Nonato, V. A. (2016, July 27). Supreme Court opens door for GMO research. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from Business World Online:
https://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=supreme-court-opens-door-for-gmo-
research&id=131003

Pedersen, S., Jensen, B. F., & Jorgensen, S. T. (1995). Enzymes from genetically modified microorganisms. ACS Publications, 196-208.

Runguphan, W., Qu, X., & O'connor, S. E. (2010). Integrating carbon–halogen bond formation into medicinal plant metabolism.
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Serapio, M., & Dela Cruz, E. (2016, March 7). Philippines signs new GMO rules, food industry relieved. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from
Reuters: Philippines signs new GMO rules, food industry relieved

Vezina, K. (2014, April 9). Greener paper through genetically engineered trees. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from Genetic Literacy Project:
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/04/09/greener-paper-through-genetically-engineered-trees/

WHO. (2014, May). Frequently Asked Questions on Genetically Modified Food. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from World Health
Organization: https://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-
technology/Frequently_asked_questions_on_gm_foods.pdf?ua=1

Zimmer, C. (2006, November 22). Scientist of the Year: ęay Keasling. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from Discover Magazine:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/scientist-of-the-year-jay-keasling

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