SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND

SOCIETY
NOTES • All Chapters

1. Human Flourishing
2. Technology as a Way of Revealing
3. The Good Life
4. When Technology and Humanity Cross
5. The Information Age
6. Biodiversity and the Healthy Society
7. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
8. The Nano World
9. The Aspects of Gene Therapy
 NOTES 1
Human Flourishing
Chapter 2, Lesson 1 | STS and the Human Condition
A. KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS
ENUMERATE: Key Terms in Human Flourishing
1. Human Flourishing — Defined as being 'good spirited' (eudaimonia) — a term coined by Greek
philosopher Aristotle to describe the pinnacle of happiness attainable by humans.
2. Eudaimonia — Greek term for 'good spirited'; Aristotle's word for the highest form of human
happiness and well-being.
3. Verification Theory — The earliest criterion distinguishing philosophy from science. Proposes
that a discipline is science if it can be confirmed or interpreted when an alternative hypothesis is
accepted.
4. Falsification Theory — Asserts that as long as an ideology is not proven to be false and can
explain a phenomenon better than alternative theories, we should accept it. Proponent: Karl
Popper.

Note: Thomas Kuhn (American philosopher) warned against bridging the gap between evidence
and theory by interpreting evidence according to personal biases.

B. KEY PEOPLE
ENUMERATE: Key People in Human Flourishing
1. Aristotle — Greek philosopher who coined the term eudaimonia (human flourishing) — the
pinnacle of happiness attainable by humans.
2. Thomas Kuhn — American philosopher who warned against interpreting evidence based on
personal biases when bridging evidence and theory.
3. Karl Popper — Known proponent of Falsification Theory — the idea that a theory should be
accepted until it is proven false.

EXAM TIP: Verification Theory = confirmed by evidence (Thomas Kuhn). Falsification Theory =
accepted until proven false (Karl Popper).
 NOTES 2
Technology as a Way of Revealing
Chapter 2, Lesson 2 | STS and the Human Condition

A. KEY CONCEPTS
ENUMERATE: Key Ideas in Technology as a Way of Revealing
1. Generation gap — The gap between older and younger generations attributed mainly to
changes brought about by technology. Older generations often find new technologies too
complicated to operate.
2. Technology's original idea — To help everyone — though not everyone is equally comfortable
using different technologies.
3. Challenge for S & T — To make technological advancements more accessible and less
confusing for people of all ages, especially the older generation.
4. Humanity's primary goal — No longer merely to survive, but to live the good life. Humans
today are much better off compared to those several centuries ago.

B. COMPARISONS: THEN AND NOW

ENUMERATE: Notable Comparisons Used to Measure Human Progress
1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) — Measure of economic output and material wealth of a
nation.
2. Average Lifespan — People today live significantly longer due to advances in medicine and
technology.
3. Literacy Rate — Greater access to education has improved the ability to read and write
globally.
4. Mortality Rate — Death rates have declined due to improved health care and living conditions.

EXAM TIP: 4 Comparisons: GDP, Average Lifespan, Literacy Rate, Mortality Rate.

REVIEWER 3
The Good Life
Chapter 2, Lesson 3 | STS and the Human Condition
A. INTRODUCTION
DEFINE: The Good Life
1. The Good Life — In ancient Greece, long before the word 'science' was coined, the need to
understand the world was bound with the need to understand the self and the good life.
2. Happiness as the goal — Through the ages, humans have constantly struggled with the
external world in order to reach human flourishing. History has given birth to different schools of
thought, all of which aim for the good and happy life.

B. SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THE GOOD LIFE

ENUMERATE: 5 Schools of Thought on Happiness and the Good Life
1. Materialism — First materialists were the atomists of Ancient Greece — Democritus and
Leucippus — who believed the world is made of tiny indivisible units called 'atomos' or 'seed.' In
terms of human flourishing, material wealth is the primary source of happiness and meaning.
2. Hedonism — Hedonists see the end goal of life as acquiring pleasure. Life is about obtaining
and indulging in pleasure because life is limited. Mantra: 'Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we
die.'
3. Stoicism — Led by Epicurus. To generate happiness, one must learn to distance oneself and
practice apathy (apatheia) — to be indifferent. Happiness can only be attained by carefully
practicing indifference.
4. Theism — Most people find the meaning of their lives using God as the fulcrum of existence.
The ultimate basis of happiness for theists is communion with God. The world is a temporary reality
while waiting to return to God.
5. Humanism — Espouses freedom of man to carve his own destiny and legislate his own laws,
free from the control of a God. Man is literally the captain of the ship. Scientists turned to
technology to ease the difficulty of life.

EXAM TIP: 5 Schools: Materialism → Hedonism → Stoicism → Theism → Humanism. Acronym: M-

H-S-T-H.

C. KEY PEOPLE
ENUMERATE: Key People in the Good Life
1. Democritus & Leucippus — Atomists of Ancient Greece; first materialists. Believed the world is
made of indivisible units called atomos.
2. Epicurus — Led the Stoic school of thought; believed happiness comes from practicing apathy
(apatheia).
 REVIEWER 4
When Technology and Humanity Cross
Chapter 2, Lesson 4 | STS and the Human Condition
A. KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS
ENUMERATE: Key Terms in Technology and Humanity
1. Technology — From Greek: techne (art) + logos (word) — 'a discourse on art' (Buchanan,
2010).
2. Robot — An actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with a degree of
autonomy, moving within its environment to perform intended tasks.
3. Autonomy — Ability of a robot to perform intended tasks based on current state and sensing
without human intervention.
4. Service Robot — A robot that performs useful tasks for humans or equipment excluding
industrial application.
5. Personal Service Robot — Service robot for personal use; used for non-commercial tasks,
usually by laypersons. Examples: domestic servant robot, automated wheelchair, pet exercising
robot.
6. Professional Service Robot — Service robot for professional use; operated by a trained
operator. Examples: cleaning robot, delivery robot, firefighting robot, rehabilitation robot, surgery
robot.
7. Ethics of Responsibility — 'Responsibility' — in the sense of being accountable for and
accountable to — is appropriate to the ethics of technology. Asks: What ought to be allowed?

B. KEY INVENTORS
ENUMERATE: Key Inventors in Technology and Humanity
1. Paul Gottlieb Nipkow — Late 1800s — Sent images through wires using a rotating metal disk
(Nipkow disk). Called it the 'electric telescope' — 18 lines of resolution.
2. Alan Archibald Campbell-Swinton & Boris Rosing — Developed a new television system
using a cathode ray tube in addition to the mechanical scanner system.
3. Martin Cooper — Senior engineer at Motorola. Developed the first mobile phone (Motorola
DynaTAC 8000x, 1983). Weighed 1.1 kg; 30-minute talk time; 10 hours to charge.
4. Charles Babbage — 19th-century English Mathematics professor who designed the Analytical
Engine — forerunner of modern computers.
5. George Devol — American inventor who developed Unimate — the first material-handling robot
employed in industrial production work.
6. Isaac Asimov — American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University who
formulated the Three Laws of Robotics.

C. THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS

ENUMERATE: Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics
1. First Law — A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to
come to harm.
 2. Second Law — A robot must obey orders given by human beings except where such orders
would conflict with the First Law.
3. Third Law — A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict
with the First and Second Laws.

EXAM TIP: 3 Laws in order: No harm → Obey humans → Protect itself. Each law is subordinate to
the one above it.

D. ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN TECHNOLOGY

ENUMERATE: Ethical Dilemmas Involving Technology
1. Devices making children lazy and unhealthy — Most parents argue that television sets,
mobile phones, computers, and laptops make children sedentary and unhealthy.
2. Free exposure to all types of content — People are freely exposed to different — including
harmful — content on televisions, mobile phones, and computers.
3. Safety in Robotics — Who should be held accountable if someone's safety is compromised by
a robot — the robot, the agent using it, or the maker/inventor?
4. Emotional Component of Robots — It is not impossible for robots to develop emotions. If
robots become sentient, should they be granted robot rights?
5. Misuse of technology — Anything too much is bad. Various ethical dilemmas arise from the
misuse of technological devices or invention to produce bad results.

E. PHILIPPINE TECHNOLOGY STATISTICS

ENUMERATE: Facts About Filipinos and Technology
1. Television ownership — 92% of urban homes and 70% of rural homes own at least one
television set (Kantar Media). Households with TV reached 15.135 million.
2. Mobile phone ownership — More than half of the Filipino population own at least one mobile
phone. 67% product ownership in 2010 (Synovate). 1 in 3 Filipinos cannot live without a mobile
phone.
3. Mobile subscriptions — Mobile phone subscriptions reached 119 million. Filipinos spend 3.2
hours on mobile and 5.2 hours on desktop daily.
4. Social media — 47 million active Facebook accounts. Philippines has one of the highest digital
populations in the world.
 REVIEWER 5
The Information Age
Chapter 3.1 | Science, Technology, and Society
A. KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS
ENUMERATE: Key Terms in the Information Age
1. INFORMATION AGE — A period starting in the last quarter of the 20th century when
information became effortlessly accessible through publications and through the management of
information by computers and computer networks.
2. Digital Age — Another name for the Information Age (also called the New Media Age) —
associated with the development of computers.
3. Computer — An electronic device that stores and processes data (information). It runs on a
program that contains exact, step-by-step directions to solve a problem.
4. World Wide Web (WWW) — A hypertext-based information system. Any word in a hypertext
document can be specified as a pointer to a different hypertext document where more information
can be found.
5. Bioinformatics — Application of information technology to store, organize, and analyze vast
amounts of biological data — sequences and structures of proteins (building blocks of organisms)
and nucleic acids (information carriers).

B. NOTABLE PEOPLE & COMPANIES

ENUMERATE: Key Inventors / People in the Information Age
1. Johannes Gutenberg — Invented the printing press using movable metal type — made mass
publication possible.
2. Samuel Johnson — Published 'A Dictionary of the English Language' — one of the first major
English dictionaries.
3. Ada Lovelace — Wrote the world's first computer program.
4. Eadweard Muybridge — Demonstrated high-speed photography — laid groundwork for motion
pictures.
5. Lee DeForest — Invented the electronic amplifying tube (triode) — essential for radio and
electronics.
6. Zyorkyn — Invented the television camera tube.
7. Vannevar Bush — Foresaw the invention of hypertext — visionary of information systems.
8. Claude E. Shannon — Proposed the birth of field-of-information theory — founder of
information science.
9. Jean Hoerni — Developed the planar transistor — key step toward integrated circuits.
10. Intel — Introduced the first microprocessor chip — miniaturized computing power.
11. RadioShack — Introduced the first complete personal computer sold to the public.

C. TYPES OF COMPUTERS
ENUMERATE: 7 Types of Computers
 1. Personal Computer (PC) — A single-user instrument. First called 'microcomputer' — a
complete computer built on a smaller scale than business systems.
2. Desktop Computer — A PC not designed for portability; set up in a permanent location. A
workstation is a desktop with a more powerful processor for special tasks such as 3D graphics or
game development.
3. Laptops — Portable computers that integrate desktop essentials in a battery-powered package,
somewhat larger than a hardcover book. Also called notebooks.
4. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) — Tightly integrated computers with no keyboard — rely
on a touchscreen for input. Smaller than a paperback, lightweight, and battery-powered.
5. Servers — Computers improved to provide network services to other computers. Feature
powerful processors, large memory, and large hard drives.
6. Mainframes — Huge computer systems that can fill an entire room. Used by large firms for
processing millions of transactions daily. Also called enterprise servers.
7. Wearable computers — Integrated into cell phones, watches, and other small objects. Perform
common applications: databases, email, multimedia, and scheduling.

EXAM TIP: 7 Types in order: PC → Desktop → Laptop → PDA → Server → Mainframe →

Wearable.

D. DOMAIN SUFFIXES FOR WEB RELIABILITY

ENUMERATE: 5 Domain Suffixes & What They Mean
1. Educational — .edu — Hosted by educational institutions such as schools and universities.
2. Commercial — .com — Hosted by commercial or business entities.
3. Military — .mil — Hosted by military organizations.
4. Government — .gov — Hosted by government agencies.
5. Nonprofit — .org — Hosted by non-profit organizations.

EXAM TIP: Remember the 5 suffixes: .edu .com .mil .gov .org

REVIEWER 6
Biodiversity & the Healthy Society
Chapter 3.2 | Science, Technology, and Society
A. KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS
ENUMERATE: Key Terms in Biodiversity
1. Biodiversity — The variations among animals, plants, and microorganisms. The totality of
genes, species, and ecosystems of a region. ('bio' = life + 'diversity' = variety). First used by
Dasmann in 1968.
2. Ecosystem — A geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as
weather and landscapes, work together to form a 'bubble of life.'
3. Environmental change — One of the main causes of biodiversity loss. Environmental
conditions play a key role in defining the function and distribution of organisms — with enormous
impacts on biodiversity in the past and future.
4. Habitat loss — Occurs when natural environments are transformed or modified to serve human
needs. The most significant cause of biodiversity loss globally.

B. LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
ENUMERATE: 3 Levels of Biodiversity
1. Genetic diversity — The variety of genes within a species.
2. Species diversity — The variety of species within a habitat or region.
3. Ecosystem diversity — The variety of ecosystems present in a geographical area.

EXAM TIP: 3 Levels = Genetic → Species → Ecosystem. Think: G-S-E.

C. DIRECT DRIVERS OF BIODIVERSITY CHANGE

ENUMERATE: 5 Direct Drivers (directly influence ecosystem processes)
1. Climate change — Significantly impacts biodiversity and ecosystems. Expected to exacerbate
risks of extinction, floods, droughts, population declines, and disease outbreaks. May become the
main direct driver of biodiversity loss by end of the century.
2. Habitat loss — Natural environments transformed or modified to serve human needs. The most
significant cause of biodiversity loss globally. Also referred to as land use change.
3. Invasive species — Species that spread outside their natural habitat and threaten biodiversity
in their new area. Non-native organisms that cause economic, environmental, or health harm.
4. Overexploitation — Unsustainable use — biodiversity removed faster than it can be
replenished. Using too much of the natural resources over the long term.
5. Pollution — Pollution in water, air, or land threatens biodiversity. Toxic synthetic chemicals
enter ecosystems, leading to extinction of animal and plant species.

EXAM TIP: 5 Direct Drivers acronym: C-H-I-O-P (Climate, Habitat, Invasive, Overexploitation,
Pollution).
D. INDIRECT DRIVERS OF BIODIVERSITY CHANGE
ENUMERATE: 5 Indirect Drivers (alter one or more direct drivers)
1. Population change — Increase or decrease in human population affects resource demand and
land use.
2. Change in economic activity — Industrial growth, patterns of consumption, and market forces
drive land and resource use.
3. Sociopolitical factors — Government policies, governance systems, laws, and international
agreements.
4. Cultural factors — Values, traditions, behaviors, and belief systems of human societies.
5. Technological change — New technologies and methods that affect how land and natural
resources are used.

EXAM TIP: 5 Indirect Drivers acronym: P-E-S-C-T (Population, Economic, Sociopolitical, Cultural,
Technological).

E. ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE — CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS

ENUMERATE: 5 Causes Under Environmental Change
1. Climate change — Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns disrupt ecosystems
where species have evolved.
2. Pollution (air, water, soil) — Toxic substances contaminate ecosystems and kill off species.
3. Overpopulation — More people means greater resource consumption, land conversion, and
waste production.
4. Overexploitation of natural resources — Excessive harvesting, mining, logging, and fishing
beyond sustainable levels.
5. Deforestation — Clearing forests destroys habitats and reduces the planet's capacity to absorb
CO₂.

F. CONSEQUENCES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS

ENUMERATE: 8 Consequences of Biodiversity Loss
1. Extinction of species — The alteration and destruction of habitats puts thousands of species in
danger of or into extinction.
2. Threats to human beings — Endangers human well-being by affecting soil and water, which
are fundamental to food production.
3. Proliferation of pests — Imbalances in ecosystems lead to the emergence of pests that
damage crops.
4. Food production impact — Decreases the nutrient level of food and the growth of food crops.
 5. Spread of disease — Causes degradation of the ecosystem, which leads to exposure to
disease in animals, plants, and human beings.
6. Loss of habitat — Biodiversity loss causes loss of habitats for many species, potentially leading
to further extinction.
7. Increase in CO₂ emissions — The capacity of forests and oceans to absorb CO₂ decreases
when ecosystems are adversely affected.
8. Natural disaster — Forms an unsustainable ecosystem which can lead to natural disasters like
floods, droughts, and forest fires.

EXAM TIP: 8 Consequences: Extinction, Threats to humans, Pests, Food production, Disease,
Habitat loss, CO₂ increase, Natural disasters.

REVIEWER 7
GMOs: Science, Health & Politics
Chapter 3.3 | Science, Technology, and Society
A. KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS
ENUMERATE: Key Terms in GMOs
1. Genetic Engineering — The modification of an organism's phenotype by altering its genetic
makeup. Mainly performed by simple couplings or gene recombination. Involves the deliberate
manipulation of an organism's genes, which may include transfer of genes from other organisms.
2. Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) — An organism created when the DNA of one living
thing is added to the DNA of another so that a 'desirable' section becomes part of the new, modified
organism. These changes can modify or introduce particular traits.

Note: The term 'Genetic Engineering' was coined by Jack Williamson in 1951 in the science fiction
novel Dragon's Island.

B. ROLES OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

ENUMERATE: 6 Roles of GMOs in the Food and Agricultural Industries (CEEH, 2003)
1. Pest Resistance — Genetically modified plants engineered to resist certain pests.
2. Virus Resistance — Genetically modified plants engineered to resist certain viruses.
3. Herbicide Tolerance — Genetically modified plants engineered to tolerate herbicides.
4. Fortification — Genetically modified plants fortified with certain minerals for nutritional
enhancement.
5. Preservation — Genetically modified plants engineered to resist natural discoloration (cosmetic
preservation).
6. Increased Growth Rate — Genetically modified organisms that have a higher yield and growth
rate than normal species.

EXAM TIP: 6 Roles: Pest → Virus → Herbicide → Fortification → Preservation → Growth Rate.

C. GMOS IN NON-FOOD & MEDICAL FIELDS

ENUMERATE: Other Applications of GMOs
1. Flower Production — Modified color and extended vase life of flowers.
2. Paper Production — Modified tree characteristics for higher yield of paper production.
3. Pharmaceutical Production — Modified plants engineered to produce pharmaceutical
products.
4. Enzyme & Drug Production — Modified microorganisms that produce enzymes for food
processing and medicines.
5. Bioremediation — Modified plants that assist in the cleanup of polluted sites.
 Medical field example — Artemisinin: anti-malarial compound from sweet wormwood plant; through
genetic engineering it can be synthetically produced by yeast and bacteria.

D. BENEFITS OF GMOS
ENUMERATE: Benefits of GMOs
1. Higher efficiency in farming — More output achieved with fewer inputs and resources.
2. Increase in harvest — Higher crop yields per planting season.
3. Control in fertility — Ability to manage crop reproduction and development.
4. Increase in food processing — Better shelf life, preservation, and processing quality.
5. Improvement in desirable characteristics — Disease resistance, taste, appearance, and
texture can be enhanced.
6. Nutritional and pharmaceutical enhancement — Added nutrients and medicinal compounds
can be introduced.
7. Reduced fertilizer and pesticide use — Over 40 million hectares of GMO farmland worldwide
demonstrate reduced chemical use.

E. RISKS OF GMOS
ENUMERATE: 4 Effects of GMOs on Humans
1. More Allergic Reactions — GMO foods may trigger existing or create new allergic reactions as
a side effect of gene alteration.
2. Gene Mutation — GMO foods may develop abnormalities and mutations beyond the desired
product of gene alteration.
3. Antibiotic Resistance — GMO foods contain antibiotic-resistance genes — disease-causing
bacteria may also become resistant, increasing the risk of widespread disease.
4. Change in Nutritional Value — GMO foods may have altered nutritional content compared to
non-GMO counterparts.

ENUMERATE: 4 Human Health Risks of GMOs

1. Adverse effects from consumption — Consuming GMOs may have harmful effects on the
human body.
2. Alteration of microorganism balance — GMO consumption may disturb the balance of
existing microorganisms in the body.
3. Production of toxins — Some GMO modifications may cause production of toxins detrimental
to human health.
4. Production of allergens — GMO modifications may cause production of allergens with adverse
effects on humans.

ENUMERATE: 3 Environmental Risks of GMOs

 1. Risk in gene flow — Potential for modified genes to transfer from GMO crops to wild relatives,
soil organisms, or the human intestine when ingested.
2. Emergence of new pest and weed resistance — GMO crops resistant to pesticides may
trigger new forms of resistant pests. GMO herbicide-tolerant crops may lead to overuse of
herbicides, triggering new herbicide-resistant weeds.
3. Recombination of virus and bacteria to produce new pathogens — Modified genes can be
transferred into viral or bacterial genes, causing modification or mutation into new, potentially more
dangerous pathogens.

F. BIOSAFETY & INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS

ENUMERATE: Key Biosafety Bodies & Agreements
1. Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) — Created by FAO + WHO. Intergovernmental
body that develops international food standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and
recommendations on food safety.
2. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2003) — International environmental treaty regulating
transboundary movements of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). Requires exporters to seek
consent from importers before first shipment.
3. International Trade Agreement on GM Food Labeling — Requires exporters to label GM
food; gives importers the right to reject or accept GMO products. Based on consumers' right to
know and freedom to choose.

G. GMOS IN THE PHILIPPINES

ENUMERATE: Key Philippine GMO Policies & Events
1. E.O. No. 430 (1990) — Created the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP).
2. NCBP Guidelines (1998) — Developed guidelines on the planned release of GMOs and
potentially harmful exotic species.
3. DA Admin. Order No. 8 (2002) — Guidelines for importation and release of GM plants into the
environment. GMO imports began.
4. 2002 — First in Asia — Philippines became the FIRST country in Asia to approve commercial
cultivation of GMOs (GM corn).
5. 2006 — Cartagena Protocol — Philippines joined the Cartagena Protocol. E.O. No. 514
established the National Biosafety Framework (NBF).
6. 2010 — Organic Agriculture Act — Organic Agriculture Act issued — encouraged organic over
GMO-related agriculture.
7. December 2015 — Supreme Court ordered an end to field testing of GMO Bt eggplant. DA
Admin. Order No. 8 (2002) declared null and void.
8. March 7, 2016 — Five agencies passed Joint Department Circular No. 1 — rules for GMO
research and development.

ENUMERATE: 5 Government Agencies in the 2016 Joint Circular

 1. DOST — Department of Science and Technology
2. DA — Department of Agriculture
3. DENR — Department of Environment and Natural Resources
4. DOH — Department of Health
5. DILG — Department of Interior and Local Government

EXAM TIP: Philippines = FIRST in Asia to approve commercial GMO cultivation (2002, GM Corn).
Cartagena Protocol joined in 2006.

REVIEWER 8
The Nano World
Chapter 3.4 | Science, Technology, and Society
A. KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS
ENUMERATE: Key Terms in Nanotechnology
1. Nanotechnology — The science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale
(about 1 to 100 nanometers). Employs the study and application of exceptionally small things in
materials science, engineering, physics, biology, and chemistry.
2. Nanoscience — Branch of science that studies systems and manipulates matter on atomic,
molecular, and supramolecular scales (the ultra-small/nanometer scale).
3. Nanometer — A unit of spatial measurement equal to 10⁻⁹ meter (one billionth of a meter).
Commonly used in nanotechnology — the building of extremely small machines.
4. Nanomanufacturing — Scaled-up and cost-effective manufacturing of nanoscale materials,
structures, devices, and systems. Leads to the development of new products and improved
materials.
5. Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) — A branch of microscopy that forms images of surfaces
using a physical probe that scans the specimen. Founded in 1981 with the invention of the scanning
tunneling microscope.
6. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) — A type of SPM with demonstrated resolution on the order
of fractions of a nanometer — more than 1,000 times better than the optical diffraction limit. Gathers
information by 'feeling' or 'touching' the surface with a mechanical probe.

B. ORIGIN & HISTORY OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

ENUMERATE: Key Events in the Origin of Nanotechnology
1. Richard Feynman (1959) — Renowned physicist who first discussed nanoscience in his talk
'There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom,' describing the possibility of synthesis via direct
manipulation of atoms.
2. Mohamed Atalla & Dawon Kahng (1960) — Egyptian and Korean engineers at Bell Labs who
fabricated the first MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor) with a gate oxide
thickness of 100 nm.
3. Norio Taniguchi (1974) — First used the term 'nano-technology.'
4. K. Eric Drexler (1986) — Used the term 'nanotechnology' in his book Engines of Creation: The
Coming Era of Nanotechnology. Proposed the idea of a nanoscale 'assembler' that could build
copies of itself with atomic control. Also co-founded The Foresight Institute in 1986 to raise public
awareness of nanotechnology.

C. TYPES OF MICROSCOPES USED IN NANOTECHNOLOGY

ENUMERATE: 3 Types of Microscopes in Nanotechnology
1. Electron Microscope — Uses a beam of accelerated electrons as a source of illumination. First
built in 1930 by German engineers Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll.
 2. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) — High-resolution scanning probe microscope with
resolution measurable in fractions of a nanometer. Pioneered in 1986 by Nobel Prize winner Gerd
Binnig, along with Calvin Quate and Christoph Gerber.
3. Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) — An instrument for imaging surfaces at the atomic
level. Developed in 1981; earned inventors Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer (IBM Zurich) the Nobel
Prize in Physics in 1986.

D. TWO APPROACHES OF NANOMANUFACTURING

ENUMERATE: 2 Fundamental Approaches of Nanomanufacturing
1. Bottom-up fabrication — Manufactures products by building them up from atomic and
molecular scale components.
2. Top-down fabrication — Trims large pieces of materials into nanoscale. Needs larger amounts
of materials and discards excess raw materials.

E. APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
ENUMERATE: Applications of Nanotechnology in Various Fields
1. Medicine — Targeted Drug Delivery — Enables development of targeted drug delivery
systems that can precisely deliver drugs to specific cells or tissues.
2. Medicine — Improved Diagnostics — Leads to more sensitive and accurate diagnostic tools
that can detect diseases at much earlier stages.
3. Medicine — Advanced Therapeutics — Facilitates techniques like gene therapy and RNA
interference, which can alter or regulate gene function.
4. Medicine — Prosthetics & Implants — Nanostructured materials improve implants and
prosthetics, making them more durable, lightweight, and tissue-compatible.
5. Agriculture — Food Science — Nanoparticles of silver in foods can act as an antibacterial
agent to potentially extend the life of fruits and vegetables.
6. Agriculture — Crop Production — Nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides improve crop yields
and reduce environmental impact through controlled release.
7. Agriculture — Water Management — Nanotechnology can improve water filtration and
purification for irrigation and safe drinking water.
8. Society — Artificial Photosynthesis — Scientists have used a water splitter device to produce
hydrogen power when the sun is not directly shining.

F. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

ENUMERATE: Advantages of Nanotechnology
1. Unique materials — Can create stronger, lighter, cheaper, more durable, and more precise
materials and products.
 2. Faster computers — Industrial computers made with nanomaterials can become a million times
faster and a million times smaller.
3. Automatic machine cleanup — Enables automated maintenance and cleanup at the
nanoscale.
4. Very low manufacturing cost — Manufacturing at very low cost or potentially no cost.

ENUMERATE: Disadvantages of Nanotechnology

1. Environmental impact — Nanoparticles can be challenging to manage once they enter the
environment.
2. Health risks — Nanoparticles can penetrate deep into the body and cross biological barriers like
the blood-brain barrier.
3. Toxicity and safety concerns — Safety profile of many nanomaterials is still under
investigation; toxicological impact varies by size, shape, and chemical composition.
4. Lack of regulation — Regulatory frameworks for nanotechnology are still in development.
5. Ethical and privacy issues — Nanotechnology could enable new forms of surveillance or data
collection.
6. Economic disruption — Adoption of nanotechnology may disrupt existing industries and lead
to job losses.
7. High cost — Research, development, and manufacturing of nanotechnology-based products
can be expensive for consumers.
8. Weaponization risk — Nanotechnology could be used to create new types of weapons or
enhance existing ones, posing security risks.

EXAM TIP: 2 fabrication approaches: Bottom-up (build from atoms) vs. Top-down (trim from large
material). First use of 'nano-technology': Norio Taniguchi (1974).

REVIEWER 9
The Aspects of Gene Therapy
Chapter 3.5 | Science, Technology, and Society
A. KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS
ENUMERATE: Key Terms in Gene Therapy
1. Gene Therapy — A medical technique that modifies a person's genes to treat or cure disease. It
works by replacing, inactivating, or introducing genes into a patient's cells to fight disease —
particularly genetic disorders.
2. Stem Cell — Undifferentiated cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into specialized
cell types. They are the body's raw materials — cells from which all other cells with specialized
functions are generated.
3. Embryonic Stem Cells — Stem cells derived from human embryos (typically 3–5 days old,
called a blastocyst). They are pluripotent — capable of developing into almost any cell type in the
body.
4. Somatic (Adult) Stem Cells — Undifferentiated cells found in differentiated tissue. They can
self-renew and differentiate to yield the specialized cell types of the tissue from which they
originate. More limited than embryonic stem cells.
5. Stem Cell Gene Therapy — The combination of stem cell technology and gene therapy. Stem
cells are genetically modified and then used to treat diseases — particularly inherited or genetic
disorders.
6. Pluripotent — The ability of a stem cell to differentiate into almost all types of cells in the body.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent.

B. TYPES OF STEM CELLS

ENUMERATE: Types of Stem Cells
1. Embryonic Stem Cells — Derived from embryos at the blastocyst stage (3–5 days old).
Pluripotent — can become nearly any cell type. Highly controversial due to ethical concerns about
the destruction of embryos.
2. Somatic / Adult Stem Cells — Found in tissues and organs of the body after birth. More limited
in differentiation capacity than embryonic stem cells. Less ethically controversial.
3. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) — Adult cells that have been genetically
reprogrammed to an embryonic-like pluripotent state. Significant for research as they avoid the
ethical issues of embryonic stem cells.

C. APPLICATIONS OF GENE THERAPY

ENUMERATE: Applications of Gene Therapy
1. Treatment of genetic disorders — Replacing or correcting defective genes responsible for
inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and hemophilia.
2. Cancer treatment — Gene therapy can be used to target and destroy cancer cells, prevent
them from multiplying, or boost the immune system to fight cancer.
3. Infectious disease treatment — Introducing genes that help the immune system fight infectious
diseases like HIV.
 4. Drug production — Using genetically modified organisms to produce therapeutic proteins and
drugs (e.g., insulin, growth hormones).
5. Regenerative medicine — Using stem cells combined with gene therapy to regenerate
damaged or destroyed tissues and organs.

D. ETHICAL CONCERNS IN GENE THERAPY

ENUMERATE: Ethical Issues in Gene Therapy
1. Destruction of embryos — Embryonic stem cell research requires the destruction of human
embryos, raising serious ethical and religious objections.
2. Designer babies — Fear that gene editing technology could be used to select or enhance traits
in embryos beyond treating disease (e.g., intelligence, appearance).
3. Unintended genetic effects — Gene modifications could have unpredictable effects on other
genes, potentially causing new diseases or harmful mutations.
4. Access and inequality — Gene therapy treatments may be too expensive for most patients,
creating health inequality between rich and poor.
5. Germline modification risks — Changes made to germline (reproductive) cells would be
inherited by future generations — permanent and potentially irreversible consequences.

EXAM TIP: Stem Cell Gene Therapy = stem cell technology + gene therapy combined. Embryonic
stem cells = pluripotent. Somatic stem cells = limited differentiation, less controversial.