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General Education Courses
Course Code | Title | No. of units:
SCITES030 Science, Technology, and Society (3 units)
Course Outcomes
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
1. explain how science and technology affect society and the environment & its role in nation-
building.
2. analyze human condition to deeply reflect & express philosophical ramifications that are
meaningful to the student as a member of society,
3. define & demonstrate the impact of social media on the student’s life and Philippine society in
general,
4. critique human flourishing vis-a-vis the progress of science & technology so that student may
be able to define for himself/herself the meaning of a good life
5. creatively present the importance & contributions of science & technology to society,
6. illustrate how social media and information age impact the people’s lives and their
understanding of the specific issues/concerns in STS.
Module 6: Genetic Engineering and the Society
This module aims to help students understand the process of genetic engineering and its
applications in different fields. It explains how genetic engineering is used in agriculture, health care,
and environmental management to improve crop production, develop medical treatments, and
address environmental issues. In addition, the module encourages students to compare and
evaluate the benefits and potential negative effects of genetically engineered organisms on
society, allowing them to develop a balanced understanding of both the advantages and possible
risks associated with this technology.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the module, students must have:
1. explain the process of genetic engineering in agriculture, health care & environment;
2. compare the benefits & negative effects of genetically-engineered organisms to society;
3. explain how genetically engineered organisms are developed and used to solve real-world
problems such as improving crop yield, producing medicines, and reducing environmental
pollution.
4. analyze the potential benefits of genetically engineered organisms to society, such as
improved food security, medical treatments, and environmental sustainability.
5. evaluate the possible risks or negative effects of genetically engineered organisms on human
health, ecosystems, and ethical considerations.
Learning Evidence: “Fix the World with Genes” Brainstorm
Key Concepts with Learning Activities:
What if?
“Imagine a country where rice crops are constantly destroyed by pests and many children suffer from
vitamin deficiency. Scientists claim they can create a rice plant that resists pests and contains essential
vitamins.”
• Would you support this idea? Why or why not?
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• What possible benefits and risks could it bring?
What is Genetic Engineering?
Genetic Engineering- alters, deletes, and modifies the DNA of living organisms with the use of
biotechnology. Genes from two different organisms that can't breed naturally are modified and
artificially introduced to another organism creating a transgenic or GMO.
Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that involves the integration of natural
sciences and engineering sciences to achieve some common goals.
1. Identify. Locate an organism with a specific trait and extract its Dna ( restriction enzyme)
disease resistance, faster growth
2. Isolation of the target gene , gene cloning (clone) I
3. Insertion of the target sa vector (plasmid
4. Transformation of host cells
5. Breeding (gene expression)
Assessment: Biodiversity Documentation of Flora and Fauna in Negros Occidental
Fundamental Procedures of rDNA Technology
1. DNA fragments are obtained from a donor organism.
2. Detached DNA fragment from a donor is inserted into the genome of a vector.
3. The vector is a carrier molecule engineered to deliver the gene to the host cell.
Recombinant DNA- refers to DNA molecules that are artificially created by combining DNA from two
or more different sources.
What is GMO?
A genetically modified organism is one whose genetic material has been altered using genetic
engineering.
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOS, are commonly used in foods and medicines.
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General Education Courses
This has led to concern about the dangers they might cause to the environment and to human
health.
Purpose of GMO
1. Increase crop yields
2. Increase shelf life
3. Make disease and parasite resistant crops
4. Produce more nutritious crops?
In the Philippines, approved GMO products include Bt corn, Bt eggplant, and Golden Rice, which are
regulated to ensure safety and environmental protection.
[Link] Corn: This genetically modified corn is engineered to be resistant to certain pests, reducing the
need for chemical insecticides. It has been widely adopted in the Philippines to enhance crop yiel
d and sustainability.
2. Bt Eggplant: Also known as borer
resistant eggplant, this variety has been developed to withstand the eggplant fruit and shoot borer,
a common pest. It received biosafety approval for commercial cultivation in 2022.
[Link] Rice: This genetically modified rice is bioengineered to produce betacarotene, a precursor t
o vitamin A, addressing malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency in the country. The Philippines is a
mong the first countries to approve Golden Rice for cultivation.
According to the ISAAA GM Approval Database, the Philippines has approved 140 GMO crop events
for importation and consumption. These include:
• Soybean: Herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant varieties.
• Canola: Roundup Ready , TruFlex , and InVigor hybrids.
• Cotton: Bt cotton and herbicide-tolerant cotton.
• Alfalfa: Roundup Ready and HarvXtra alfalfa.
• Sugar beet: Herbicide-tolerant sugar beet.
• Rice (Golden Rice): Biofortified with Vitamin A.
• Corn hybrids: Multiple stacked traits (insect resistance + herbicide tolerance).
GMO Products in the Market
1. Processed foods: Many imported products (soybean oil, canola oil, corn-based snacks) use GMO
ingredients.
2. Animal feed: GMO corn and soybean meal are widely used in livestock and poultry feed.
3. Cooking oils: Canola and soybean oils from GMO crops are common in supermarkets.
“Would you eat genetically modified food?”
The Impacts of GMO to the Society
Agriculture
ADVANTAGES
1. Sustain food production & lessen food insecurity.
2. Improved food quality by fortification
3. Minimize poverty & malnutrition
4. Longer shelf life
5. Pest resistant
6. Cheaper than organic crops
DISADVANTAGES
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1. Disturb biodiversity
2. Produce new organism with desirable traits harmful to another organism
3. Cross pollination affect the genetic identity of organic crops
4. Crop yield of organic foods is decreased compared to GMO
Health
ADVANTAGES
1. Can cure some diseases
2. Develop vaccine for Hepatitis B by baker’s yeast
3. Insulin in GM Escherichia coli and factor VIII
4. Develop “edible vaccine” & antigenic protein in plants once eaten and absorb, boost the
immune system
5. Develop sterile insect technique. Mosquito is engineered to prevent the spread of malaria
6. Foods fortified with vitamins and minerals
DISADVANTAGES
1. Consultation from genetic experts, genetic therapy are very expensive
2. Medical results are uncertain and takes time
3. Eating GMO foods with genes from bacteria, virus, and fungi.
Environment
ADVANTAGES
1. Reduced use of pesticides and herbicides
2. Farm tillage is minimized therefore reduction of fuel consumption
3. CO2 emission to the atmosphere is decreased
4. Bioremediation is a natural way of cleaning oil spills in aquatic environment
5. Produce BIOPOL a biodegradable plastic from Gm bacterium Ralstonia eutropha
DISADVANTAGES
1. Possible absorption of toxic chemicals in the soilmay contribute water and air contamination
like glyphosate
2. Create insects tolerant to toxic insects super bug
3. Create bacteria resistant to antibiotic
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Advantages of GMO
[Link]
GMOs have the GMOs could fuel GMOs can affect
GMOs can produce
potential to be antibiotic immune system
toxic substances
allergenic resistance function
GMOs have been Genetic GMOs may
GMOs are driving
implicated in modification can contribute to
a loss of
hormone mask disease in cancer
biodiversity
disruption GMOs development
Gene Therapy
• A therapeutic delivery of nucleic acid into a patient’s cells as a drug to treat genetic disease.
• A technique of introducing a new DNA with functioning gene to correct the effects
(defective genes) of disease causing mutation
• A promising treatment option of some genetic diseases including muscular dystrophy, cystic
fibrosis etc.
Types of Gene Therapy
1. SOMATIC GENE THERAPHY
• The transfer of DNA to body cells namely the blood cells, muscles, fat, neurons, and bone
cells reproduced by mitosis.
2. GERMLINE GENE THERAPHY
• is the transfer of DNA to gametes or cells in sexual reproduction.
• Egg cell + sperm cell= zygote
Gene Mutations
are changes in the DNA sequence of an organism that can affect its traits and functions
Gene Mutations are the ones that cause a disease.
Some well known inherited genetic disorders
▸ Cystic Fibrosis
▸ Sickle cell Anemia
▸ Hemophilia
▸ Color Blindness
▸ Muscular dystrophy etc.
▸ All these disorders are caused by the mutation of a single gene. Some medical problems
may be genetic but not hereditary
CHALLENGES OF GENE THERAPY
▸ Delivering the gene to the right place and switching it on
▸ Avoiding the immune response
▸ Making sure the new gene doesn’t disrupt the function of other gene
▸ The cost of gene therapy
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Why is a virus also used in biotechnology?
1. Efficient Gene Delivery- viruses are naturally equipped to enter hosts cells and deliver their
genetic material.
2. Target specificity- can be engineered o target specific cell types , ideal for precision
therapies(cancer treatments or gene therapy).
3. Replication Ability- viruses can replicate within cells, amplifying the desired gene effect.
4. Research Tool-used to study gene function, protein interactions, and cell behavior by introducing
specific genetic modifications.
The Socio Economic and Political Impacts of GMO's
GMO's help many underdeveloped nations acquire sustainable food security.
Population growth increases demands and possibly the root cause of problems emerging in the
society congruently affect the economy of a country.
Matin Qaim, an expert in international food economics and rural development, conducted many
researches in Africa, Asia and America. He concluded that Genetically Modified Crops provided many
benefits to the poor. Debates on controversies and politics are playing around GMO's.
3 Reasons people oppose GMO Foods
1. Rational Opposition
• GMO express foreign genes which can be toxic or cause allergies
• can contaminate organic crops
• can promote monocultures
2. Anti-Capitalist Opposition
GMO’s are produced by big corporations trying to take over the food supply and to dominate the
world.
3. Quasi-Religious Opposition
“Mother Nature knows better and we must not try to improve her.”(Pollandri).
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Activity: “Fix the World with Genes” Brainstorm
Objective: Apply genetic engineering to real-world problems.
Instruction: Write a short essay about this question below. (At least three to five paragraphs)
“If you could genetically engineer an organism to solve one global problem, what would it
be?”
Examples:
• Bacteria that clean oil spills
• Mosquitoes that stop spreading malaria
• Crops that survive climate change
Rubrics for Grading
Criteria 10 pts 8 pts 5 pts
Creativity Very original idea Somewhat Not creative
creative
Scientific Clear and accurate explanation Partially clear Unclear/inaccurate
Explanation
Relevance to Strongly solves a real-world Somewhat Weak connection
Problem problem related
TOTAL 30 points