Science 100: Science, Technology and Society: Unit Iv:Technological Advancement:Issues and Implications
Science 100: Science, Technology and Society: Unit Iv:Technological Advancement:Issues and Implications
IV. BIOTECHNOLOGY
- The use of microorganisms, cells, or cell components to make a product such as
commercial production of foods, vaccines, antibiotics, and vitamins.
- It encompasses tools and techniques including those of recombinant DNA technology,
the living organisms to be improved (plants, animals or microorganisms), the products
from these organisms which can be new or rare.
- Is the use of biological processes, organism, or systems to manufacture products intended
to improve the quality of human life
- The earliest biotechnologists were farmers who could developed improved species of
plants and animals by cross pollination or cross breeding
- The science of technology can be broken down into sub disciplines called
A. RED BIOTECHNOLOGY
- Involves medical processes such as getting organisms to produce new drugs, or using
stem cells to regenerate damaged human tissues and perhaps re-grow entire organs
A. WHITE
- also called Gray Biotechnology
- involves industrial processes such as the production of new chemicals or the development
of new fuels for vehicles
B. GREEN
- Applies to agricultural and involves such processes as the development of pest – resistant
grains or the accelerated evolution of disease-resistant animals
C. BLUE
- Rarely mentioned, encompasses processes in marine and aquatic environments, such as
controlling the proliferation of noxious water-borne organisms.
ADVANTAGES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
1. It can improve health and reduce hunger simultaneously
2. It can create flexibility within the food chain.
3. It offers medical advancement opportunities.
4. It allows us to preserve resources.
5. It helps us minimize or eliminate waste products.
6. It can reduce infectious disease rates.
DISADVANTAGES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
1. It creates an all-or-nothing approach.
2. It is a field of research with many unknowns.
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SCIENCE 100: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and SOCIETY
The latter is made possible by inserting genes into cells by recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology
sometimes called genetic engineering.
IMPLICATIONS AND ISSUES
2. Bioterrorism
- Government are worried terrorists will use biotechnology to create new Superbugs.
Infectious viruses, or toxins for which we have no cures. According to the CDC,
bioterrorism happens when viruses, bacteria or other germs are released intentionally to
inflict harm on or kill people, plants or livestock. The agency says the most likely agent
to be used in an attack is anthrax-a serious disease caused by a bacteria found naturally in
soil.
- The use of viruses and diseases as a weapon in warfare has been well documented in
history. Native Americans were infected by the British army in the 1760s when they were
given blankets from a smallpox hospital. During World War II, Japan released bombs on
China containing fleas infested with diseases.
- In modern times, bioterrorists are able to transfer diseases and viruses through
explosives, food and water, and even aerosol sprays. But the use of biotechnology as a
weapon was banned by the Geneva Convention.
3. Laboratory/production safety
- It’s hard to protect yourself if you don’t know you’re working against. Some new
technologies, usually non-biological such as nanoparticles, make commercial production
lines before they have been sufficiently tested for safety. There is also concern about
technician safety in laboratories-even under secure conditions-when working with
organisms of unknown virulence.
4. Ethical Issues
a. The construction of genes from scratch means we might someday be able to create life
from a chemical soup which will most certainly go against the ethical or religious beliefs
of a significant number of people.
b. Ethical concerns including when scientists protect their subjects when they are ensure of
the results or side effects of any study
c. Activists are critical of the use of animals as test subjects in biotechnology. Scientists
may manipulate animal genes all for the benefits of human lives. The animal therefore
becomes nothing more than a piece of property, rather a living being.
- A technique that allows genes and DNA to be transferred from one source to another.
- Typically involves transferring genes from one organism into another organism of a
different species to give the other specific traits of the former. The resulting organism is
called a transgenic or genetically modified organism, or GMO
- It leads to the production of living modified organisms or genetically modified
organisms.
IMPORTANCE:
CECILIA K. POGONGAN
SCIENCE 100: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and SOCIETY
1. used on microorganism help in the creation of new pharmaceuticals which cannot be made in
any other way.
2. it helps in the process of bioremediation which is the process of cleaning up waste and pollution
with the help of living organisms.
3. It has helped lower the overall usage of herbicides and pesticides
4. has help in the production of vaccines and other drugs in plants
5. .has produced very useful genetically modified breeds which can tolerate factory farming without
any suffering
6. used to treat genetic disorders and cancer and also helps in supplying body parts
7. Certain bacterial sequences are manipulated to transform waste into ethanol, so that it can be used
as fuel.
1. A gene must be isolated and well characterized before it can be used in genetic manipulation.
2. Isolation of plasmid and DNA containing gene of interest. The gene of interest is inserted into
the vector DNA in vitro.
a. Restriction endonucleases
- acts as scissors to cut DNA at specific sites.
b. DNA ligase
- acts as glue that joins 2 DNA molecules.
- In the figure, the vector is a plasmid.
Plasmids
- are circular pieces of bacterial DNA that often contain genes not related to basic life functions
but it provides bacteria with genetic advantages such as antibiotic resistance.
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SCIENCE 100: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and SOCIETY
3. This recombinant vector DNA is taken up by a cell such as a bacterium, where it can multiply
and grown in culture to form a clone of many identical cells. Each of which carries copies of the
vector. DNA vectors are often called gene-cloning vectors.
2. Introduced GMOs may interbreed with the wild-type or sexually compatible relatives.
- The novel trait may disappear in wild types unless it confers a selective advantage to the
recipient. However, tolerance abilities of wild types may also develop, thus altering the
native species’ ecological relationship and behaviour.
4. Ecosystem Impacts
- The effects of changes in a single species may extend well b beyond to the ecosystem.
Single impacts are always joined by the risk of ecosystem damage and destruction.
CECILIA K. POGONGAN
SCIENCE 100: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and SOCIETY
CECILIA K. POGONGAN
SCIENCE 100: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and SOCIETY
- In 2008, a New Zealand research team lead by Colin Eady produced an onion that does not
make you cry while cutting it. Interestingly, the insertion of a single gene which down
regulates the activity of the onion enzyme that make your eyes water, and secondly, they now
have even more health beneficial sulphur-containing substance than regular onions.
- of environmental situations. It occurs especially in response to changing environments
and provides organisms, especially prokaryotes, with access to genes other than those that
can be inherited. HGT of an introduced gene from a GMO may confer a novel trait in
another organism, which could be a source of potential harm to the health of people or
the environment.
IMPORTANCE OF GMO
I.GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries
The center for Ecoenergetics and Environmental Health ( CEEH, 2013 ) identified the following
roles of GMOs in the food and agricultural industries:
1. Pest resistance
- genetically modified plants to resist certain pests.
- an example is Bt corn. The DNA ( genome) of the Bt Corn has modified with the gene of
Bacillus thuregensis, a soil bacterium that produces protein which is toxic to corn borers (
worm)
2. Virus resistance
- genetically modified plants to resist certain viruses
- an example is GM papaya or rainbow papaya
- The papaya ringspot virus ( PRSV)is known to be detrimental to papaya, The protein of
PRSV was introduced to the papaya plant through the plant tissue which turned out to be
resistant to the virus itself. The effect was like the vaccines humans have against measles
or influenza virus
3. Herbicide tolerance
- Tolerate herbicides
- An example is Roundup Ready soybean. Glyphosate, an herbicide for weeds, was
introduced to soybeans making it tolerant to the herbicide itself. Farmers then can spray
the herbicide killing the weeds but not the soybeans.
4. Fortification
- genetically modified plants fortified with certain minerals
- An example is golden Rice. Beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, was introduced
through biosynthesis genes to the rice, making the rice grains fortified with vitamin A.
5. Cosmetic preservation
- genetically modified plants resist natural discoloration
- An example is Arctic Apple, the apple variety was genetically modified to suppress the
browning of apple due to superficial damage
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SCIENCE 100: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and SOCIETY
4. Bioremediation
- Use modified plants that can assist in the bioremediation of polluted sites
- An example is shrub tobacco, Nicotiana glauca, or shrub tobacco genetically modified
with phytochelatin TaPCSII, is used for bioremediation. It shows high level accumulation
of zinc, lead, cadmium, nickel, and boron and produces high biomass.
BENEFITS OF GMOS
1. Higher efficiency in farming
2. Increased in harvest
3. Control in fertility
4. Increase in food processing
5. Improvement of desirable characteristics
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SCIENCE 100: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and SOCIETY
c. . may cause harmful effects to the ecosystem process if GMOs interfere with the natural
biochemical cycles
d. The persistent of GMO genes after its harvest which may cause negative to the consumer
of GMO products
Worldwide, there are many groups that campaign against GMO food consumption. They encourage
people to boycott GMO products and to be vigilant in checking if the food they buy has GMO
ingredients. In the Philippines, the Supreme Court has ruled against the use of Bt eggplant, another
genetically modified crop
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