MODULE 9: THE INFORMATION AGE •HISTORY OF INFORMATION AGE•

 During 1990s, information became the

•INFORMATION AGE• currency in the business world.  invention of language, writing, and
 It was preferred medium of exchange printing greatly improved how human
 period starting in the last quarter of the and information managers served as exchange information and
20th century when information became information officers. communicate
effortlessly accessible through  In the present generation, there is no  early and primitive forms of information
publications and through the doubt that information has turned out and communication technology were
management of information by to be a commodity, an overdeveloped developed
computers and computer networks. product, mass-produced, and  ways of exchanging information in the
 Also called Digital Age and the New unspecialized. past: drum rolls, fire signals, hand
Media Age  We can still say that information is a signals, use of pigeons, use of flags,
very important tool that helps improve
•THEORY OF INFORMATION AGE• and papyrus; many of them are still in
our way of life.
 The Information Age will continue to use today but remain to have
 proposed by JAMES R. MESSENGER move forward and far greater than our limitations.
(1982) minds could imagine.
 He stated that “the Information Age is
true new age based upon the  There are so many modern •FIRST INFORMATION REVOLUTION•
interconnection of computers via technologies today. It influences
telecommunications, with these human lives and the society as a  Information Revolutions aimed to
information systems operating on both whole. One aspect that technologies address the limitation of
a real-time and as needed basis. has greatly affected is information. communication.
Furthermore, the primary factors  Began in the mid-19th century with
driving this new age forward are  Communicating or exchanging the invention of the telegraph,
convenience and user-friendliness information is important to humans due telephone, and radio. It lasted until the
which, in turn, will create user to wide array of reasons. It’s limited by: 1950s.
dependence.”
A. Distance
•INFORMATION ANXIETY• B. Time
C. Location TELEGRAPH
 during 1980s, it’s called by RICHARD
These technologies affected the social, political,  America inventor SAMUEL MORSE
WURMAN because:
and economic role of information leading to the was credited for developing the first
1. We were unprepared to handle.
2. Abundance of information, it was so-called INFORMATION REVOLUTIONS. operational model of the telegraph.
difficult to collect and manage  prototype was patented in 1940, but
3. We no longer kept them to ourselves. The start of the information revolution was was first used in 1945
Instead, we share them and manage made possible by the invention of language,  use of the telegraph became
them in different means. writing, and printing. widespread in America and then in
 Europe; increased the connection first-generation computer was that they
between people separated by great used vacuum tubes which generated a
distances •SECOND INFORMATION REVOLUTION• lot of heat causing overheating or
 played an important role during the  began in the 1950s until 1980s burning out.
American Civil War. It was used by the  further improved communication due  The problem on overheating led to the
US Government to communicate to the invention of the television, early development of transistors by William
military information, command, and generation computers, and satellites. Shockley, Walter Brattain, and John
intelligence reports to its troops. This revolution made the “world Bardeen. The use of transistors are
smaller” the basic for the second-generation
TELEPHONE computers were smaller, faster, and
 first telephonic device was TELEVISION more reliable. The invention of
developed by Johann Philip Reis integrated circuits led to the
 actually developed in the 1920s based
 Alexander Graham Bell was credited development of the third-generation
on the work of 3 inventors
for the invention of the telephone in computers.
 Fansworth invented the process of
1876 image scanning. SATELLITES
 It can send sound waves; became very  Zworykin invented the iconoscope
popular in the US and Europe. tube, and the kinescope television  developed in order to transmit
Networks of telephone communication tube. telephone and television signals in a
were established. It impacted  Dumont invented the receiver picture global scale
business, military, foreign affairs and tube.
many other human activities.
RADIO SATELLITES ENABLE GLOBAL
COMMUNICATION
 another important technology of the
First Information Revolution INVENTION OF EARLY COMPUTERS 1. Sputnik 1 - first artificial satellite
 Guglielmo Marconi who invented and - developed by then Soviet
 due to the needs of the military John Union and was launched in
patented the first radio. His radio can
Vincent Atanasoff was credited for 1957.
only send Morse Codes.
developing the first electronic digital - marked the beginning of the
 Reginald Fessenden who discovered
computer in 1939 so-called Space Age.
how to send voice and music through
 Alan Turing developed the first
the radio. - In the US, the military
working digital computer, the
 Used during World Wars; played a key launched its first satellite,
‘Collosus’. It was used during World
part in the development of the the SCORE or Signal
War II to decode Nazi war codes.
broadcasting (news) and the music Communications by
 In 1946, J. Presper Eckert and John
industries Orbiting Relay Equipment
Marchly developed ENIAC and other
in 1958.
 - Satellites were initially done MAIN TECHNOLOGIES OF THIRD 3. It created a ‘Digital divide’
by the military for military INFORMATION REVOLUTION ARE: 4. It affected human’s productivity and
purposes. Eventually flourishing
satellites were developed by - advanced semiconductors
civilians for non-military use. - advanced computers CLAUDE E. SHANON
- fiber optics  An American Mathematician and the
2. SYNCOM III - first civilian
“FATHER OF INFORMATION
telecommunications satellite - cellular technology THEORY”
- launched into orbit in 1964. - satellite technology  The Internet is a worldwide system of
- developed by NASA and was - advanced networking interconnected networks that facilitate
used to broadcast the 1964 - improved human-computer data transmission
Summer Olympics. interaction  It was developed during the 1970’s
3. INTELSAT I – the ‘Early Bird’; by the Department of Defense
- digital transmission and digital  One problem faced by Internet users
the first commercial compression
communications satellite was SPEED.
- launched in 1965 and was ADVANTAGES OF INTERNET
developed by Hughes 1. Improved innovation
Aircraft Company (now 2. Improved entertainment
Boeing Satellite Systems) 3. Improved social discoveries
 Later on, satellite technologies were 4. Localization of knowledge
further improved and developed. This •IMPACT OF INFORMATION AGE• 5. Improved communication
enabled global communications, and DISADVANTAGES
The Information Age has the following
the rise of television networks, and 1. Cyber Sickness
positive impacts: 2. Technology changes the way children
telecommunications companies.
 Satellite allowed governments and 1. It enabled greater connectivity of think
companies to send information with people around the world.
•WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW)•
privacy, reliability, and timeliness 2. It made many aspects of day to day  modern example of technology , the
life more convenient. 20th-century tour de force
3. It created online communities.  Invented by SIR TIM BERNERS-LEE
•THIRD INFORMATION REVOLUTION• 4. It made information more accessible.  a way of addressing data processing
and information sharing needs among
 the first two Information Revolutions The information Age also has the following scientist for the EUROPEAN
paved the way for more technologies downsides: ORGANIZATION for NUCLEAR
and innovations which led to the Third 1. The information Age also has the RESEARCH (CERN)
Information Revolution following downsides”  CERN produces a huge amount of
2. It allowed the conduct of crimes and scientific data every second
illegal activities.
•TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH•  relationship between living and non- interbreed and produce viable
 Allowed the transmission of living things offspring
information to transcend physical  Variety of life forms in Earth ENDEMIC SPECIES - native or restricted in a
boundaries, processing of veritable  It ranges from the smallest particular area
ocean and mountain of scientific data. microorganisms, the mycoplasmas, - Example: the Philippine
up to the largest animals, the blue Eagle, the Philippine tarsier,
•SOCIAL MEDIA• whales. and Rafllesia speciosa
 Encourages building a community of  Biodiversity is the short term for BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT – regions in the
like-minded people. ‘biological diversity’. world with rich biodiversity but are currently
 The easy access to personal  Variability among living organisms facing threats of depletion and loss.
information makes one susceptible to from all sources, including terrestrial, - Examples: whole Madagascar
online predation, identify theft, and marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the Philippine
scamming among other and ecological complexes archipelago
 Reinforces biases and beliefs based  Biotic: living organisms and the
only on the content that they allow Abiotic: non-living organisms •THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY•
within the community, forgoing the 1. Habitat loss and destruction
variation and clash of ideas provided in •THREE LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY• 2. Alterations in ecosystem composition
real life. 1. Genetic Diversity - the variations in 3. Over-exploitation
 Human being must be responsible in 4. Pollution and Contamination
the different genes present in
utilizing information to avoid and 5. Global Climate Change
prevent harming other people. individual organisms.
- For instance, among humans,
IM – Instant Message there are difference in terms •CONSEQUENCES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS•
SMS – Short Message Service of genetic sequences. 1. Affect nutrient cycles and soil contents
USB – Universal Serial Bus 2. Species Diversity - the variations 2. Influence environmental conditions
URL – Uniform Resource Locator within and among populations in a such as water cycles, weather
PDA – Personal Digital Assistance species, as well as the difference patterns, climate and other non-biotic
between and among species. aspects
3. Ecosystem Diversity - refers to all 3. Loss of biodiversity
MODULE 10: BIODIVERSITY AND THE ecosystems, ecological process and
HEALTHY SOCIETY biological communities. •ECOSYSTEM•
- Examples: two different  relationship between living and non-
living things
•EMPEDOCLES• ecosystems are coral reefs
 refers to the interaction of biological
 the four elements: air, water, fire and and temperate forests.
communities with one another and with
earth SPECIES – a group of organisms
physical environment.
- have common genetic,  The direct and indirect contributions or
•BIODIVERSITY• ecological and evolutionary benefits that could be derived from the
characteristics that can
 ecosystem are called ecosystem biodiversity hotspots with more than 3. New threatened – species that are
services. 900 threatened species. evaluated but do not quality as vulnerable,
endangered, and critically endangered.
Example: Bull shark and smooth
cauliflower coral
4. Vulnerable – species like to be
•BIODIVERSITY LOSS• endangered in the near future.
 refers to the depletion or reduction Example: Molave tree, Philippine eagle-
•FOUR MAIN TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM
of biological diversity due to the owl, and dugong. The molave tree and
SERVICES•
extinction of species. dugong are both native to the Philippines
 Provisioning services – include food,  result to the death of ecosystem while the Philippine eagle-owl is endemic in
wood, clean water and air. worldwide, resulting to ending and the country.
 Regulating services – include changing of ecosystem services 5. Endangered – species that are likely to
purification, water filtration, carbon  most of these losses in become extinct.
sequestration, and climate regulation. biodiversity hotspot. It is predicted Example: Calamian deer, Visayas Hornbill,
 Supporting services – include soil that half of the world species will and the rare orchid, short haired
formation, habitat, and storage of gene be extinct by 2050. paphiodilum. All of them are endemic to the
pools Philippines.
 Cultural services – include THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE 6. Critically endangered – species that
aesthetics, recreational use, and CONSERVATION OF NATURE or IUCN face high risk of extinction.
indigenous use. categorize species based on their Example: Philippine eagle, Philippine
conservation status. crocodile, and the tamaraw. All of them are
•PATTERNS OF BIODIVERSITY• 1. Data Deficient – species that lack endemic to the Philippines.
 According to the Global Biodiversity adequate information on their abundance, 7. Extinct in the Wild – species that are
Outlook 1 (2001), there are around 14 diversity or distribution, hence, there is no only present in captivity, in cultivation or in
million species in the world with assessment of risk for extinction. naturalized populations.
nearly 2 million species discovered Example: Vicente’s poison frog of Panama Example: Alogoas Curassow in Brazil,
and described. and cherry plum Hawaiian Crow, and Pere David Deer of
 The Philippines has at least 52,000 2. Least Concern – species that have China
species discovered and described. been evaluated and were not considered to 8. Extinct – species that are already gone;
It is one of the mega-diverse countries. be threatened. the last individuals have died.
Philippines has high endemism at Example: sea snails, Conus barbieri, and Example: Golden toad of Costa Rica,
least 49% of its terrestrial wildlife Conus textile, and giant reed (Arundo Japanese Sea Lion, and the Great Auk
being endemic to the country. donax). They native to the Philippines.
However, it is also one of the world’s •CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY•
1. Habitat alteration and destruction
2. Pollution The Biodiversity International has released a  coined by Jack Williamson, author of
3. Over-exploitation module entitled: “LAW AND POLICY OF the science fiction novel Dragon
4. Global Warming and Climate Change RELEVANCE TO THE MANAGEMENT OF  The reality of science laboratories or
5. Illegal Poaching and Wildlife Trade PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES” emerging field of science that quest to
6. Diseases  Aims to help professionals in preserve and prolong life.
7. Introduction of Invasive species managing, conserving, and using plant  A process of deliberate manipulation of
genetic resources for food and the organism’s genes, that involve
•ENVIRONMENT-RELATED ILLNESSES• agriculture transfer of genes from other organism
1. Parkinson’s Disease  This module provides the following
2. Heart Disease definitions: GMO (GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM)
3. Cancer 1. Biotechnology uses biological  Used for an organism created through
4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary systems, living organisms, or genetic engineering
Disease derivatives thereof, to make or modify  The WHO (WORLD HEALTH
5. Asthma products or processes for a specific ORGANIZATION), defines the GMO
6. Diabetes use. as an “organism, either plant, animal
7. Obesity 2. Genetic engineering is a technique or microorganism, in which the genetic
8. Occupational Injuries that allows genes and DNA to be material (DNA) does not occur
9. Arthritis transferred from one source to naturally by mating or natural
10. Malaria another. It leads to the production of recombination.
11. Depression living modified organisms (LMO’s) or  The development of GMO’s was
genetically modified organisms perceived to help in the advancement
•2010: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF (GMO’s). of technology for the benefit of humans
BIODIVERSITY• 3. Modern biotechnology gives scientists in different industries like agriculture
 Biological Diversity – known as molecular tools for obtaining a better and medicine.
biodiversity, a term given to the variety understanding of the structure and
of life on Earth and the natural patterns function of genes in living organism.
it forms What are GENETICALLY MODIFIED
 This year is focuses on boosting ORGANISMS (GMOs)?
awareness of biodiversity’s importance  GMOs are organisms whose genetic
by promoting actions to foster make-up were artificially modified
biodiversity worldwide. Various through genetic engineering.
partners have committed to actively MODULE 11: GENETICALLY MODIFIED  In the process, some genes will be
participating in or organizing activities added to the organism, rendering a
ORGANISMS: SCIENCE, HEALTH AND
and projects change or an addition of new traits.
POLITICS
PROCESS OF MAKING GENETICALLY
GENETIC ENGINEERING MODIFIED ORGANISMS
1. The process of making genetically modified 1. Ecosystem risks – suggested that
organism starts with the identification of a trait 4. Fortification - fortified with certain genetically modified organisms can become
of interest. minerals invasive species.
2. The gene responsible for that trait of interest Example: Golden Rice Example: Bt corn is being studied for its
is isolated. potential impact against insect pollinators such
3. The gene is inserted to the genome of the 5. Cosmetic Preservation - resist as bees.
organism being modified. natural discoloration 2. Genetic Contamination or Interbreeding –
4. The GMO is allowed to grow GMOs may interbreed with types which can
6. Increase Growth rate - higher yield in cause the loss of the trait in the succeeding
 Before a GMOs can be produced and growth. generations, rendering the GMO inefficient later
consumed by the public, it must Example: AquAdvantage salmon on.
undergo a lot of processes. There will 3. Adverse effects on Health – GMOs may
be an assessment of its biosafety, GMO’S IN NON-FOOD CROPS AND cause adverse effects on human health; may
economic feasibility, and social MICROORGANISMS cause toxicity to humans, allergic reactions, and
acceptance, among others. 1. Flower Production – seen in modified other unintended effects. GMOs for human
 GMOs have important uses. They are color and extended vase life of flowers. consumption are being assessed for potential
used in agricultural, industrial, health (ex. BLUE ROSES) health effects.
and environment purposes. There is a 2. Paper Production – modified 4. Social Acceptance – lack of acceptance by
wide array of applications and uses for characteristics of trees their target consumers. Many are wary about
genetically modified organisms. (ex. Poplar Trees) GMOs’ potential impacts and effects.
3. Pharmaceutical Production – Example: if corn farmers are skeptical and will
GMO’s IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL modified plants to produce products not use genetically modified corn seeds, then
INDUSTRIES (ex. Periwinkle Plants) the seeds will be useless.
1. Pest Resistance - to resist certain 4. Bioremediation – modified plants that 5. Economic Issues and Access – GMOs
pests, can assist of polluted sites might not be accessible to many. Huge
Example: Bt. (Bacillus thuringiensis) (ex. Shrub tobacco) investments are needed to develop GMOs. For
Corn, a soil bacterium that produces 5. Enzyme and Drug Production – businesses that develop them, there should be
proteins which is toxic to corn borers modified microorganisms that can a return on investment and profit. This makes
(worms) produce enzymes for food processing GMO products expensive.
and medicines
2. Virus Resistance - to resist certain (ex. Artemesin) 6. Animal welfare – Many GMOs are animals.
viruses Example: GM papaya or 6. GMO’s in the medical field – Hence, animal welfare issues are raised in the
rainbow papaya , the effect of protein production of drugs, gene therapy and production of GMOs.
was like vaccines humans against laboratory researches 7. Pest and Antibiotic Resistance – The use
measles or influenza virus (ex. Humulin/Insulin) of pest-killing GMOs may lead to pests
developing resistance against the GMO itself.
3. Herbicide Tolerance - tolerance to RISKS AND DOWNSIDES OF GENETICALLY Also, in the production of GMOs, some use
herbicide MODIFIED ORGANISMS antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This can possibly
Example: Roundup Ready Soybean
contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic  Cartagena Protocol on  It’s also a fields of science that resolve
resistance Biosafety a problems in health, environment and
- An international security
TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS environmental treaty that  It may become pervasive to develop
1. Direct Environmental Risks regulates transboundary new materials with specific properties
 disruption of the natural movements of Living Modified  Introduce new efficiencies and
communities Organisms (LMOs) paradigm
 unexpected behavior of the  International Trade Agreement  Nanoparticles are the building blocks
GMO’s on Labeling of GM Food and of nanotechnology. They are particles
 cause harmful effects to Food Products that are 1 to 100 nanometers in size. A
ecosystem - Give rights to importing nanometer is a billionth of a meter.
 cause negative impacts to the parties to reject and accept Nanoscience is the science of
consumer the GM products nanoparticles

2. Indirect Environmental Risks MATERIALS ON HOW TO VIEW

 alteration of agricultural practices, NANOMATERIALS
 impacts to biodiversity, 1. Electron Microscope
 varied environmental impacts o utilizes a beam of electrons to
MODULE 12: THE NANO WORLD light up a specimen and
POTENTIAL HUMAN HEALTH develop a well-magnified
1. May have adverse effects NANO image, by Ernst Ruska and
2. May alter the balance of existing  refers to a unit meaning one billionth Max Knoll
microorganisms in human digestive or 10 raise to a - 9. 2. Atomic Force Microscope
system  expresses a very tiny amount or size o by Gerd Binig, Calvin
3. Production of toxins  They are so small that even a typical, Quate and Christoph
4. Production of allergens common light microscope cannot Gerber, it makes use of a
5. Cloning magnify them. To see nanoparticles, mechanical probe that
6. Mutation of genetically engineered electron microscope and atomic gathers information from the
microorganism force microscopes must be used. surface of a material
3. Scanning tunnelling microscope
BIOSAFETY ON GMOS NANOTECHNOLOGY o used to view and manipulate
 The Codex Alimentarius  a manipulation of mater on an atomic
nanoscale particles, atoms
Commission (Codex) or subatomic scale; the development
and small molecules, by Gerd
- Codex is an of products or manipulation of matter
Binig and Heinrich Rohrer
intergovernmental body that at the nanoscale.
develops the Codex  The innovations were include
NANOMANUFACTURING
Alimentarius, known as the microprocessors and strain-resistant
 It refers to scaled-up, reliable, and
International Food Code fabrics
cost-effective manufacturing of
 nanoscale materials, structures, 2. Bionanocomposites – are nanoparticles NANOTECH ROADMAP FOR THE
devices and systems. that resulted from the combination of PHILIPPINES (Funded by PCAS-TRD-DOST)
 It involves research, improvement, and biopolymers with inorganic molecules. These 1. ICT and semiconductors
incorporation of processes for nanoparticles show flexibility and strength. 2. Health and biomedical
construction of materials - One application is in the production of 3. Energy
 It leads to the development of new biodegradable plastics. Since they are naturally- 4. Environment
products and improved materials occurring, bionanocomposites are 5. Agriculture and Food
biodegradable. 6. Health and Environmental Risk
FUNDAMENTAL APPROACHES TO 3. Carbon nanotubes – are allotropes of 7. Nano-technology
NANOMANUFACTURING carbon that have unusual properties. 8. Education and public awareness
1. Bottom-up Fabrication - One potential application is on the
• manufactures products by development of supercapacitors. DISTINCT FEATURES OF NANOSCALE
building them up from atomic- Supercapacitors have the ability to store 1. Scale at which much biology occurs
and molecular-scale electrical energy like batteries. 2. Scale at which quantum effects
components; it can be time- - important in the successful use of renewable dominate properties of materials
consuming energy sources like the solar power. 3. Nanoscale materials have far larger
4. Nanocapsules – are nanotechnologies surface areas than similar masses of
2. Top-down Fabrication made up of non-toxic polymers that can store larger-scale materials
• it trims down large pieces of biological or synthetic molecules.
materials into nanoscale. - One good application of nanocapsules is in GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR
• needs larger amounts of agriculture. They can be used to deliver soil NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DOFFERENT
materials and discards nutrients and pesticides efficiently. COUNTRIES (DAYRIT,2005)
excess raw materials 5. Magnetic nanoparticles – can be 1. U.S. National nanotechnology Initiative
manipulated using magnetic fields. Made by 2. European Commission
USES AND APPLICATIONS OF combining a magnetic material that has 3. Japan
NANOTECHNOLOGIES functionality. 4. Taiwan
 nanoparticles have a wide array of - One good application of magnetic 5. India
uses and applications. They can be nanoparticles is in medicine. They can used to 6. China
used in medicine, energy, detect cancer cells and tumors in the body. 7. Israel
environment, agriculture, food 8. Australia
security, communications, and POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS OF 9. Canada
other fields. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES 10. South Korea
Examples: 1. ICT and semiconductors 11. Thailand
1. Nanosensors – One application of 2. Health and medicine 12. Malaysia
nanosensors is on food safety. 3. Energy
- developed to detect the presence of 4. Food and Agriculture BENEFITS AND CONCERNS OF USING
pathogens in the food. The signal of detection 5. Environment NANOTECHNOLOGY
might be in the form of fluorescence. 1. Nanotechnology is not a single
technology; it may become pervasive.
 2. Nanotechnology seeks to develop new 1. Replacement of mutated gene that from producing proteins which
materials with specific properties. causes disease with a healthy copy of may cause a disease.
3. Nanotechnology may introduce new the gene
efficiencies and paradigms which may 2. Inactivation of a mutated gene that is It can be done in three ways:
make some natural resources and functioning improperly 1. Editing the gene making it
current practices uncompetitive or 3. Introducing a new gene into the body impossible to produce protein
obsolete. to help fight a disease 2. Changing the structure of the
4. It may be complicated to detect its DNA of the mutated gene to
presence unless one has the specialist STEM CELL GENE THERAPY prevent protein synthesis
tools of nanotechnology.  mother cells that have the potential to 3. RNA Interference or the use of
become any type of cell in the body RNA sequences to cause the
 have an ability to self-renew or multiply prevention of protein production
 can become cells of the blood, heart,
bones, skin, muscles, and brains C. Killing specific cells – it is
usually done in cancer cells.
2 SOURCES OF STEM CELL
1. Embryonic Stem Cells – derived It can be done in two ways:
from a four-or-five day old human 1. A DNA containing a suicide
embryo, they usually extras that gene will be inserted to the
are fertilized in a test tube of a diseased cell causing its death
MODULE 13: THE ASPECTS OF GENE woman 2. A DNA will be inserted to the
2. Somatic Stem Cells- exist target cell to produce a protein
THERAPY
throughout the body after that will mark the cell for attack by
embryonic development and found the body’s natural immune
GENE THERAPY in the different types of tissue system.
 Many diseases are caused by genetic
deformities or irregularities. In order to HOW GENE THERAPY WORKS? TYPES OF GENE THERAPY
treat these diseases, gene therapy A. Replacement of mutated gene 1. Somatic Gene Therapy
was developed. that causes the disease - a new o involves the manipulation of
 a medical process that uses genes to functional and healthy gene will be genes that will be helpful to
prevent a disease inserted the patient but not inherited to
 it is the introduction, removal or - Viral vectors are used to carry the next generation
change in genetic material of an a healthy gene to the site of 2. Germ-Line Gene Therapy
individual to prevent or treat a mutation. The mutated or o involves genetic modification
disease. non-functional gene will be of germ cells or the origin
cut away. cells that will pass the change
BASIC PROCESS OF GENE THERAPY B. Gene silencing or deactivating on the next generation
of a mutated gene – the mutated
gene will be turn off to prevent it
CHALLENGES IN GENE THERAPY The development and use of gene therapy may
A. Gene Delivery and Activation pose the following ethical questions: •ELEMENTS IN THE INTERACTION
In some diseases, a gene need to be 1. How to distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ BETWEEN SUN AND THE EARTH•
delivered to a group of cells or in tissues. This gene therapy? 1. APHELION
requires proper and accurate gene delivery. 2. Is it right to change someone’s genome? o the point in the orbit of the
Upon arrival at the target cells, it must be 3. Who will have the moral authority to Earth farthest from the sun
“turned on” and must remain “on”. However, determine what diseases should be cured with 2. PERIHELION
cells have the tendency to “turn off” too much gene therapy? o point in the orbit of the Earth
active genes. 4. Will gene therapy be accessible only to the closest to the sun
wealthy? 3. EARTH’S AXIAL TILT
B. Immune response 5. How can we control the use of gene therapy o inclination angle of the Earth’s
The body’s immune system innately for negative purposes? rotational axis in
attacks any intruders such as viruses and 6. Will we allow the use of gene therapy to perpendicular to its orbital
bacteria. The problem with gene therapy is that enhance someone’s intelligence, physical plane
many vectors which are used to transport genes appearance, and for other non-disease related 4. PRECESSION
are viral in nature. These vectors should avoid purposes? o change of the orientation of
the body’s immune system. However, it is the axis of the Earth
difficult to do. 5. EQUINOX
MODULE 14: CLIMATE CHANGE o time the sun at noon is
C. Impact to Non-target Cells and other directly over the equator, it
Genes CLIMATE CHANGE happens twice a year and
What if the gene is inserted in the wrong  the statistically significant changes in causes an equal length of day
part of the genome? This is the concern that climate for continuous period of time and night
should be addressed. Putting the gene into the  can also be due to natural occurrences 6. SOLSTICE
wrong location may cause a cascade of events or contributed by acts of human o happens when the sun at
in the cell leading to death. beings. noon sits above the TROPIC
 A long-term weather patterns OF CANCER OR TROPIC
D. Access and Commercial Viability prevailing over a given area of the OF CAPRICORN. The
Many genetic disorders are rare. As much planet summer solstice has the
as possible, gene therapy is individualized per  It comes from the Greek word longest period of daylight in
patient to be more effective. Hence, developing KLINEIN meaning “to slope”, it the year and the winter
and administering gene therapy is costly. For evolved into KLIMA, connoting a zone solstice has the shortest
common genetic disorders and related diseases or region of the Earth period.
like cancer, gene therapy is still very expensive.
7. PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES
Because of this, gene therapy is still not
o motion of the equinoxes
commercially vibe. •EARTH’S MOVEMENT AROUND THE SUN•
relative to the rotation of the
 The Earth is like spinning top or
ETHICAL QUESTIONS IN GENE THERAPY? earth.
TRUMPO, turning and wobbling in its
path
•CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE•
NATURAL CAUSES
• Volcanic Eruptions – emits natural
gases
• Orbital Changes – earth’s orbit
• The Carbon Dioxide Theory – is added
when power and heat are produced by
burning coal, oil and other fossil fuels

HUMAN ACTIVITIES
• Four principal greenhouse gases:
CO2, CH4, N2O and halocarbons
• Deforestation
• Illegal Logging

GREENHOUSE GASES
• Gases in the atmosphere trap the heat
of the sun, these are certain gases that
naturally capture the heat from the sun
and hold it in so that the temperature
of the Earth’s atmosphere becomes
hotter (Greenhouse Effect)
• This mechanism is good for the
biosphere because without it, the
Earth’s atmosphere would be like that
of Mars or Antarctica - extremely cold