COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

CHAPTER III:

SPECIFIC ISSUES IN
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Midterm Major Course Output
in GE 7: Science, Technology, and Society

Submitted To:

LEONIDA S. BERNADIT
Course Instructor

Submitted By:

Maria Crystal C. Sario Rojhie Torculas

James Matthway Sumayang Venis Sagorio
Jerald James Queroda Lorense Noche
John Dave Trajano Renz Roseno
Edwin Bryill Sotto Jerome Ortiz
Kelly Ponsica Johnrel Ngoho
Samuel Rotor Jaffar Ruga

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SCIENCE, TECHNNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

CHAPTER III:
SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY

TOPICS REPORTERS
Lesson 1: THE INFORMATION AGE
MARIA CRYSTAL C. SARIO
RHOJIE D. TORCULAS

Lesson 2: BIODIVERSITY AND THE HEALTHY JAFFAR RUGA

SOCIETY SAMUEL ROTOR

Lesson 3: GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM: JEROME ORTIZ

SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND POLITICS EDWIN BRYILL SOTTO
LORENSE NOCHE

Lesson 4: THE NANO WORLD RENZ ROSENO

JERALD JAMES QUERODA

KELLY PONSICA
Lesson 5: THE ASPECT OF GENE THERAPHY JOHNREL NGOHO
JOHN DAVE TRAJANO

VENIS SAGORIO
Lesson 6: CLIMATE CHANGE JAMES MATTHWAY SUMAYANG

SCIENCE, TECHNNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

CHAPTER III:
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SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,

AND SOCIETY

Lesson 1: THE INFORMATION AGE

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
 Define Information Age;
 Discuss the history of the Information Age; and
 Understand the factors that need to be considered in checking a website’s sources.

THE INFORMATION AGE

“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.”

Also called the Digital Age and the New Media Age because it was associated with the
development of computers.

HISTORY OF COMPUTES & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(Timeline of the Information Age)
Year Event
3000 BC Sumerian writing system used pictograph to present words
2900 BC Beginnings of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing
1300 BC Tortoise shell and oracle bone writing were used
500 BC Papyrus rolls 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
 Invention of the carbon lamp
1824 Research on persistence of vision published
1830s  First viable design for a digital computer
 Augusta Lady Byron writes the world’s first computer program
1837 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
1877 Eadward Muybridge demonstrated high-speed photography
1899 First magnetic recordings was released
1902 Motion pictures special effects were used
1906 Lee DeForest invented the electronic amplifying tube (triode)
1923 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
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1946 ENIAC computer was developed

1948 Birth of field-of-information theory proposed by Claude E. Shannon

1957 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 Optical laserdisc was developed by Philips and MCA
1974 MCA and Philips Agreed on 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
1991 Four hundred fifty complete works of literature on one CDROM was released
January 1997 RSA (encryption and network security software) Internet security code
cracked for a 48

TYPES OF COMPUTERS

COMPUTER

Computers are among the most important contributions of advances in the information Age to
society. A computer is an electronic device that stores and processes data (information). It runs on a
program that contains the exact, step-by-step directions to solve a problem ([Link], 2017).

1. Personal Computer (PC)

It is a single-user instrument. PCs were first known as microcomputers since they were a
complete computer, but built on a smaller scale than the enormous systems operated by most
business.
2. Desktop Computer
A desktop computer is a personal computer (PC) designed for, and intended to stay in, a single,
stationary location, such as on or under a desk. Unlike portable laptops, they consist of separate
components, including a computer tower (housing the CPU and components), a monitor, keyboard,
and mouse.
3. Laptops

A laptop is a portable personal computer designed for mobile use, featuring a clamshell design
that integrates a screen, keyboard, and touchpad into a single, battery-powered unit.

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4. Personal Digital Assistant (PDAs)

These are tightly integrated computers that usually have no keyboards but rely on a touch
screen for user input. PDAs are typically smaller than a paperback, lightweight, and battery-
powered ([Link], 2017).
5. Server
A high-performance, specialized machine designed to store, manage, and deliver data,
services, or applications to other computers, known as "clients," over a network.
6. Mainframes
A high-performance, ultra-reliable, and secure computer designed for massive data
processing and complex, high-volume transactions, often acting as the backbone for large
enterprises, banks, and government systems.
7. Wearable Computers
They involve materials that are usually integrated into cell phones, watches, and other
small objects or places. They perform common computer applications such as databases,
email, multimedia, and schedulers ([Link], 2017).

THE WORLD WIDE WEB (INTERNET)

 The Internet is a worldwide system of interconnected networks that facilitates data

transmission among innumerable computers.
 The Internet was used mainly by scientists to communicate with other scientists; it remained
under government control until 1984.
 One early problem faced by internet users was speed. The development of fiber-optic cables
allowed for billions of bits of information to be received every minute.
 Electronic mail, or email, was a suitable was to send a message.

APPLICATION OF COMPUTERS IN SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

 The human brain cannot store all the genetic sequences of organisms, and this huge amount
of data can only be stored, analyzed, and used efficiently with the use of computers.
 Bioinformation is the application of information technology to store, organize, and analyze vast
amount of biological data.

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Use CARRDSS to evaluate your sources

C REDIBILITY: Who is the author? What are his credentials?
A CCURACY: Can facts, statistics, or other information be verified through other sources? Based
on your knowledge, does the information seem accurate?

R ELIABILITY: Does the source present a particular view or bias?

R ELEVANCE: Does this information directly support my hypothesis/thesis or help to answer
my question?

D ATE: When was this information created? When was it revised? Are these dates
meaningful in terms of the subject matter?

S OURCES BEHIND THE TEXT: Did the author use reliable, credible sources?

S COPE: Does this source address my hypothesis/thesis/question in aa comprehensive or

peripheral way? Is it a scholarly or popular treatment?

How to Check the Reliability of Web Sources

The internet contains a vast collection of highly valuable information, but it may also
contain unreliable, biased information that misleads people. The following guidelines can help
us check the reliability of web sources that we gather. It is noteworthy to consider and apply
the following guidelines to avoid misinformation. (Lee College Library, n.d.)
1. Who is the author of the article/site?
2. Who published the site?
3. What is the main purpose of the site? Why did the author write it and why did the
publisher post it?
4. Who is the intended audience?
5. What is the quality of information provided on the website?

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LESSON SUMMARY

Nowadays, information could be shared or transferred quickly.

Various aspects of our society are also being influenced by the Information Age
especially communication, economics, industry, health, and the environment.

The rapid upgrade of information poses both positive and negative impacts to our
society.

QUIZE TIME

I. Identification

Direction: Read each statement carefully. Write the correct term or phrase that best
completes or identifies the description in the blank provided.

[Link] period when info became easy to get with computers and networks.

2. Another name for the Information Age linked to computer growth.

3. An electronic tool that stores and works with data using step-by-step programs.

4. A small, portable computer with screen, keys, and battery in one unit.

5. The world network that links many computers for sharing data.

II. Enumeration

Direction: List the items asked for each number.

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1-3. List three types of computers from the lesson.

4-5. List two things to check for reliable web sources

ANSWERS KEY:

I. Identification

1. Information Age

2. Digital Age (or New Media Age)

3. Computer

4. Laptop

5. Internet

II. Enumeration

1-3.

- Personal Computer (PC)

- Desktop Computer
- Laptop
- Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
- Server
- Mainframes
- Wearable Computers

4-5

- Who is the author of the article/site?

- Who published the site?
- What is the main purpose of the site? Why did the author write it, and why did the
publisher post it?
- Who is the intended audience?
- What is the quality of information provided on the website?

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SCIENCE, TECHNNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

CHAPTER III:
SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY

Lesson 2: BIODIVERSITY AND THE HEALTHY SOCIETY

LESSON OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

 Define Biodiversity and it's level

 Determine the interelatednes in the society, environmental health
 Show the relatednes of species in forming a society
 Contribute to the wellness and health

BIODIVERSITY

Refers to variation of life forms. It is the variations among animals, plants and
microorganisms. It is the total of genes species and ecosystem of the region.

Biodiversity ("bio" meaning life + "diversity" meaning variety)

is a term used to encompass all the variability found in living organisms in terrestrial and
aquatic systems. The variability among genomes of individuals, among populations of
individuals within the same species, among species within a community, or among
communities within a landscape can all be analyzed and may be linked to ecosystem services
(Diaz et al., 2006)

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The term 'biodiversity' was first used by Dasmann in 1968. There are three levels of

biodiversity - genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.

Genetic diversity- Is the variety of genes within a species.

Species diversity - Is the variety of species within a habitat or a region.

Ecosystem diversity - is the variety of ecosystems present in a geographical area.

ECOSYSTEM

Is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather
and landscapes, work together to from a bubble of life.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem

Produce a rich array of benefits that people depend on these benefits are called
"ecosystem services".

Biodiversity plays an important role in the way ecosystems function and in the many
services they provide. These services include nutrients and water cycling, soil formation and
retention, resistance against invasive species, pollination of plants, regulation of climate, as
well as pest and pollution control by ecosystems. Biodiversity is also the source of non-
material benefits like spiritual and aesthetic values, knowledge system, culture diversity and
spiritual inspiration.

Changes in Biodiversity

In which out of it only identified all over the 1,435,662 species are world

India is a mega diversity nation due to its rich floral and faunal wealth, with 45,000 plant
species and twice as many animal species. India has only 2.4% of the world's land area, but it
has 8.1% of the world's species diversity, making it one of the world's 12 mega diversity
countries.

In the recent time there has been a great loss to the biodiversity which has posed a
serious threat to the survival of mankind. Human activities have increased the extinction rate
by at least 100 times compared to the natural rate. Biodiversity is declining rapidly due to
natural or human-induced factors. Natural or human- induced factors that directly or indirectly
cause a change in biodiversity are referred to as drivers.

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TYPES OF DIVERS

Direct drivers influence ecosystem processes and include land use change, climate
change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution.

Indirect drivers, operate more diffusely, by altering one or more direct drivers.

Five Indirect drivers of changes in ecosystem:

 population change
 change in economic activity
 sociopolitical factors
 cultural factors
 technological change

Environmental change is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss. Environmental

conditions play a key role in defining the function and distribution of organisms, in
combination with other factors. Environmental changes have had enormous impacts on
biodiversity patterns in the past and will remain one of the major drivers of biodiversity
patterns in the future.

Environmental changes are studied under the change or due to:

 Climate change
 Pollution (air, water, soil)
 Overpopulation o
 verexploitation of the natural resources
 Deforestation

Climate change show significant impact on biodiversity and ecosystems. It is expected to

exacerbate risks of extinctions, floods, droughts, population declines, and disease outbreaks.
By the end of the century, climate change and its impacts may become the main direct driver
of overall biodiversity lossenterprises, banks, and government systems.

Threats to Biodiversity

Scientists have assessed more than 47 000 species and found that 36 percent of these
are threatened with extinction, the state whereby no live individuals of a species remain. In
addition, extinction rates are estimated to be between 50 and 500 times higher than those
observed from fossil records or the so-called "background rate". However, unlike past
extinction events, which were caused by natural disasters and planetary changes, this one is
being driven by human actions or human activities

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Habitat loss occurs when natural environments are transformed or modified to serve

human needs. It is the most significant cause of biodiversity loss globally

Climate change, which is caused by a build-up of greenhouse gases such as carbon

dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. Climate change alters the climate patterns and
ecosystems in which species have evolved and on which they depend.

Overexploitation or unsustainable use happens when biodiversity is removed faster

than it can be replenished and, over the long term or using too much of the natural resources.

Invasive alien species (IAS) or species that have spread outside of their natural habitat
and threaten biodiversity in their new area. It refers to plants, animals, pathogens and other
organism that are non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or
environmental harm or adversely affect human health.

Pollution in water, air, or land is a threat to biodiversity. Toxic synthetic chemicals and
products enter ecosystems, which has led to the extinction of animal and plant species.

Consequences of Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity Loss refers to the decline or disappearance of biological diversity.

Biodiversity has declined at an alarming rate in recent years, largely as a result of human
[Link] loss can have significant impacts on human health and survival. If the
ecosystem can no longer provide human society with adequate services or products, there
will be substantial effects to the human population in many ways.

Extinction of species. The alteration and destruction of habitats puts thousands of species
in danger or extinction.

Threats to human beings. Endangers human well-being by affecting soil and water, which
are fundamental to food production.

Proliferation of pests. For example, imbalances in ecosystems can lead to the emergence
of pests that damage crops.

Food production. Impacts food production by decreasing the nutrient level of the food and
the growth of food crops.

Spread of Disease. Causes degradation of the ecosystem, which leads to exposure to

disease in animals, plants, and human beings.

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Loss of Habitat. Biodiversity loss may cause loss of habitats for many species that may lead

to extinction of many species.

Increase in CO2 emissions. The capacity of forest and oceans to absorbs CO2 decreases if
ecosystems are adversely affected.

Natural Disaster. Can form an unsustainable ecosystem which can lead to the occurrence of
natural disaster like floods, droughts, and forest fire.

Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity

According to World Health Organization, biodiversity plays a crucial role in human

nutrition through its influence on world food production, as it ensures the sustainable
productivity of soils and provide the genetic resources for all crops, livestock, and marine
species harvested for food.

 The sustainable use of biodiversity for food and agriculture provides a range of
simultaneous benefits for human and ecosystem health.
 For the health sector, it is an opportunity to promote dietary diversity and traditional
food cultures, and to raise levels of nutrition.
 Many agricultural species rely on the services of pollinators, which affect approximately
one-third of the global food supply, and crop productivity is frequently greater in areas
with a greater diversity of native bees.

 Widespread declines of pollinator species up to 70% in some areas have sometimes

been associated with pesticide use, with potentially critical implications for agricultural
productivity, food security and the functioning of ecosystems.

Biodiversity supports food security, dietary health, livelihood sustainability.

Genetic diversity in food system provides the foundation of crop development and food
security, and promotes resistance and resilience to environmental stresses including pests
and diseases of crops and livestock. Diets based on a diversity of food species promote
health, and can help to protect against disease by addressing the problem of micronutrient
and vitamin deficiencies.

Biodiversity provides important resources for medical research.

Studies of wildlife anatomy, physiology and biochemistry can lead to important

developments in human medicine. Traditional medicine continues to play an essential role in
health care, especially in primary health care. However, biodiversity loss can impact on
community tradition and livelihoods centered on traditional medicinal practices that utilize wild
animals and plants, particularly for indigenous and local communities.

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Health. Biology, and Biodiversity

We rely on biodiversity to stay healthy. Biodiversity sustains our food supply, is a source
of medicines, and supports the provision of clean air and fresh water while also contributing to
economic development, cultural and spiritual enrichment.

Changes to biodiversity can have severe and unpredictable effects on the health of all
living things, including people. Clearing new land, for example, can bring people into closer
contact with wildlife that may transmit their diseases to humans and also promote the spread
of disease from humans to animals. It may also reduce populations of predators that hold
disease-carrying organisms in check.

80% - of the World's population from developing countries rely mainly on traditional medicines
derived from plants.

25% - of prescriptions dispensed in United States pharmacies contained plant extracts or

active ingredients derived from plants.

90% - number of crop varieties has shrunk in the past 50 years, with 90% of the world's
calories coming from a dozen crops, people's diets have been simplified and nutritional
diseases have arisen in part as a result.

Biodiversity loss affects all species in the web of life, including humans, and the vital
ecosystems that they support. Obesity and diabetes, as well as many other emerging plagues
such as mental health ailments, including depression, can all in part be connected to
biodiversity loss.

Environment-Related Illnesses

According to World Health Organization, Environmental health comprises those

aspects of human health, including the quality of life, that are determined by physical,
chemical, biological, social and psychosocial factors in the environment. It also refers to the
theory and practice of assessing; correcting, controlling and preventing those factors in the
environment that adversely affect the health of present and future generations.

Environment related issues that affect our health have been one of the most important
triggers in the increasing awareness of the need for better environmental management.

 We expect urbanization and industrialization to bring in prosperity, but on the downside,

it leads to diseases related to overcrowding and poor-quality drinking water, resulting in
an increase in water borne diseases like infective diarrhea and air-borne bacterial
diseases like tuberculosis.
 High density city traffic leads to an increase in respiratory diseases.
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 Agriculture pesticides that enhance food supplies during the green revolution have

affected both the farm worker and all of us who consume the produce.
 Many drugs have been found to have serious side-effects. Sometimes, the cure is a
damaging as the disease process itself (The World Health Report 2002)

Every minute - 5 children in developing countries die from malaria or diarrhea

Every hour - 100 more children die as a result of exposure to indoor smoke from solid fuel

Every day - Almost 3000 people in low- and middle-income countries die from road traffic
injuries

Every month - Nearly 19,000 people in developing countries die from unintentional
poisoning, often as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals and pesticides in their work or
home environment

Every year - Environmental hazards and related illnesses kills million globally

QUIZE TIME

I. Identification

Direction: Read each statement carefully. Write the correct term or phrase that best completes
or identifies the description in the blank provided.

1. Is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather
and landscapes, work together to from a bubble of life
2. It is the totality of genes, species and ecosystem of a region. It is the variations among
animals, plants and microorganisms.
3. Is a mega diversity nation due to its rich floral and faunal wealth, with 45,000 plant
species and twice as many animal species.
4. According to biodiversity plays a crucial role in human nutrition through its influence on
world food production, as it ensures the sustainable productivity of soils and provide the
genetic resources for all crops, livestock, and marine species harvested for food.
5. Is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss.
6. Operate more diffusely, by altering one or more direct drivers.
7. Are species that have spread outside of their natural habitat and threaten biodiversity in
their new area. It refers to plants, animals, pathogens and other organism that are non-
native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or
adversely affect human health.
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II. Enumeration

Direction: List the items asked for each number.

1-3. Give three levels of biodiversity.

4-5. Give atleast 2 Indirect drivers of changes in ecosystem.

ANSWERS KEY

I. Identification

1. Ecosystem

2. Biodiversity

3. Philippines

4. Agricultural biodiversity

5. Habitat loss

6. Indirect drivers

7. Invasive species

II. Enumeration

1-3.

- Genetic diversity
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- Species diversity

- Ecosystem diversity

4-5

- Population growth

- Economic development

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SCIENCE, TECHNNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

CHAPTER III:
SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY

Lesson 4: THE NANO WORLD

How to View Nano-materials

• Scientists use special types of microscopes to view minute nanomaterials. During the
early 1930s, scientists used electron microscopes and field microscopes to look at the
nanoscale. The scanning tunneling microscope and atomic force microscope are just
among the modern and remarkable advancements in microscopy

1. Electron Microscope

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"Cerman engineers Imst Ruska and Max Knoll built the first electron microscope during
the 1930s. This type of microscope utilizes a porticle bearn ot electrons to light up, a
specimen and develop a well-magnitiod Image

2. Atomic Force Microscope

"It was first developed by Ger Binig. Calvin Quate, and Christoph Gerber in 1986. 1
makes use of a mechanic prove that pathers informal from the surface of a material

[Link] tunneling microscope

"This special type of microscope enables scientists to view and manipulate nanoscale
particles, atoms, and small molecules. In 1986, Gerd Binig and Heinrich Rohrer won
the Nobel Prize in Physics because of this invention

• Nano-Manufacturing

"This special type of microscope enables scientists to view and manipulate nanoscale
particles, atorms, and small molecules. In 1986, Gerd Binig and Heinrich Rohrer won th
Nobel Prize in Physics because of this invention

2 Fundamental approaches to nanomanufacturing

1. Bottom-up fabrication

It manufactures products by building them up from romic and molecular-scale

components

2. Top-down Fabrication

• its trims down large place of materials into nanosocio this process needs larger
omounts of motanals and discords excess row materials

• There are approaches to the assent of nanomaterials beited

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• trom the appication of priricicies in top-down and bottom-up fabrication

Top-down fabrication includes:

• DIP PEN LITHOGRAPHY

is a method in which the tip of an atomic force microscope a dipped into a chemical
fluid and then utilized to write on a surface like an old-fashioned int pen onto paper

• SELF ASSEMBLY

It depicts on approach wherein a set of components join together to mold an organized

structure in the absence of outside direction

• CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION

is a procedure where chemicals act in respond form very pure nigh performance films

Top-down fabrication includes:

• NANOIMPRINT LITHOGRAPHY

-It is a method of generating nonoscale amicures by atomping" or "printing" therm Inco

surface.

• MOLECULAR BEAM EPITAXY

-It is ano mannor for depositing extremely controlled thin fins

• ROLL-TO-ROLL PROCESSING

-is a high-volume pro for constructing nonosco devices on a tall of uitrachin plastic or
metol

Top-down fabrication includes:

• ATOMIC LAYER EPITAXY EPITAX

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- It is a means for laying down one-atom-thick layers on a surface A 16-Gauge wire,

approximately 1.3 millimeters in diameter. Made from carbon nanotubes that were spun
into thread and the same wire on a 150-ply spool.

• Distinct Features of Nanoscale

- Nanotechnology involves operating at a very small dimension and it allows scientists

to make use of the exceptional optical, chemical, physical, mechanical, and biological
qualities of materials of that small scale (NNI, 2017).

Features of Nanoscale

1. Scale at which much biology occurs

Various activities of the cells take place at the nanoscale. The deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) serves as the genetic material of the cell and is only about 2 nanometers in
diameter. Furthermore, the hemoglobin that transports oxygen to the tissues
throughout the body is 5.5 nanometers in diameter.
• Features of Nanoscale

1. Scale at which much biology occurs

- An example of this is the bio-barcode assay, which is a fairly inexpensive approach

for identification of specific disease markers in the blood despite their small number in
a particular specimen

2. Scale at which quantum effects dominate properties of materials.

Particles with dimensions of 1-100 nanometers have properties that are

significantly discrete from particles of bigger dimensions. Quantum effects direct the
behavior and properties of particles in this size scale. The properties of materials are
highly dependent on their size. Among the essential properties of nanoscale that
change as a function of size include chemical reactivity, fluorescence, magnetic
permeability, melting point, and electrical conductivity.

One example is the nanoscale gold, which is not only the yellow-colored element
we are used to seeing but it can also appear red or puple. Gold's electrons display
restricted motion in the nanoscale. Practically, nanoscale gold particles selectively build
up in tumors, where they permit both precise imaging and targeted laser destruction of
the tumor while avoiding damage on healthy cells.
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As we increase the surface area per mass of a particular material, a greater.

amount of the material comes in contact with another material and can affect its
reactivity

If 1 cubic centimeter is filled with micrometer-sized cubes-a trillion (1012) of

them, each with a surface area of 6 square micrometers-the total surface area amounts
to 6 square meters, or about the area of the main bathroom in an average house.
When that single cubic centimeter of volume is filled with 1-nanometer-sized cubes--
1021 of them, each with an area of 6 square nanometers--their total surface area
comes to 6,000 square meters.

Government Funding for Nanotechnolo in Different Countries (Dayrit, 2005)

• Israel (Israel National Nanotechnology Initiative

• Australia (Australian Office of Nanotechnology
• Canada (National Institute of Nanotechnology or NINT)
• South Korea (Korea National Nanotechnology Initiative
• Thailand (National Nanotechnology Center or NANOTECH)
• Malaysia (National Malaysia Nanotechnology Initiatives of NNI)

POSSIBLE APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

(In the Philippines)

• ICT and semiconductors

• Health and Medicine

• Energy

• Environment

• Food and Agriculture

• Environment
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Nanotech Roadmap for the Philippines (funded by PCAS-TRD-DOST)

1. ICT and semiconductors

2. Health and biomedical
3. Energy
4. Environment
5. Agriculture and food
6. Health and environmental risk
7. Nano-metrology
8. Education and public awaren

Benefits and Concern of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology has various applications in different sectors of the society and

environmen Salamanca-Buentello et al. (2005) proposed an initiative called

"Addressing Global Challenges Using Nanotechnology" to accelerate the use of

nanotechnology to address critical sustainable development challenges.

Concerns that need to be addressed before using and promoting materials derived
from nanotechnology (Dayrit, 2005).

1. Nanotechnology is not a single technology may become pervasive

2. Nanotechnology toeks to develop new maternals with specific properties.

3. Nanotechnology may introduce new efficiencies and poradigms which may make
some natural sesources and current practices uncompetitive or obsolete

4. may bo complicated to Its presence und has the specialtic of nanotechnology

Table 2. Benefits and Concerns of the Application of Nanotechnology in Different

Ancas

Example of Are Affected by Nanotechnology

- Emironment
- Health
- Economy
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Possible Benefits:

1. Improved detection and removal of contaminants Possible Benefits

2. Development of benign industrial processes and materials
- Improved medicine
• Better products
• New jobs

Concems:
1. High mactivity and toxicity Pervasive distribution in the environment.
2. No nano-specific EPA regulation.
- Ability to crom coll memeranes and translocare in the body.
- No FDA approval needed for cosmetics or supplements
- Redistribution of wealth
- Potential cost of cleanup and laralthcare
- Accessibility to all Income level

SCIENCE, TECHNNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

CHAPTER III:
SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY

Lesson 5: THE ASPECT OF GENE

LESSON OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, the student be able to:

•describe gene therapy and its various forms;and

•asses the issue's potential benefits and detriments to global health.

The Basic Process

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There are several approaches to gene therapy. These are the following (Fliesler, 2017):
•Replacement of mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene
•Inactivation of a mutated gene that is functioning improperly
•Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease

In general, a gene cannot be directly inserted into a human gene or cell.

A gene is inserted into another gene using a carrier or vector. At present, the most common
type of vectors are viruses that have been genetically changed to carry normal human DNA.
Viruses have evolved a way of encapsulating and transporting their genes to human cells in a
pathogenic manner (Science Daily, 2017)

Two types of Gene Therapy

The idea of gene therapy is based on correcting a disease at its root; fixing the
abnormal genes that appear to lead to certain diseases.
There are essentially two forms of gene therapy. One of which is called somatic gene
therapy. Somatic gene therapy involves the manipulation of genes in cells that will be helpful
to the patient but not inherited to the next generation (Nimsergern, 1988).
The other form of gene therapy is called germ-line gene therapy which involves the
genetic modification of germ cells or the origin cells that will pass the change on to the next
generation (Your Genome, 2017).

Stem Cell Gene Therapy

Stem cells are mother cells that have the potential to become any type of cell in the
body. One of the main characteristics of stem cells is their ability to self-renew or multiply
while maintaining the potential to develop into other types of cells. Stem cells can become
cells of the blood, heart, bones, skin, muscles, brain, among others. There are different
sources of stem cells but all types of stem cells have the same capacity to develop into
multiple types of cells.
Stem cells are derived from different sources. Two of which are embryonic and somatic stem
cells. The embryonic stem cells are derived from a four-or five-day-old human embryo that is
in the blastocyst phase of development. The embryos are usually extras that have been
created in IVF (invitro fertilization) clinics where several eggs are fertilized in a test tube then
implanted into a woman (Crosta, 2013).
The somatic stem cells are cells that exist throughout the body after embryonic
development and are found inside of different types of tissue. These stem cells have been
found in tissues such as the brain, bone marrow, blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, skin,
and the liver. They remain in a non-dividing state for years until activated by disease or tissue.
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injury. These stem cells can divide or self-renew indefinitely, enabling them to generate a
range of cell types from the originating organ or even regenerate the entire original organ.

QUIZ TIME!

There are ethical issues involved in gene therapy. Some of the inquiries cited are (Genetics
Home Reference,2017):
1. How can "good" and "bad" uses of gene therapy be distinguished?
2. Who decides which traits are normal and which constitute a disability or disorder?
3. Will the high costs of gene therapy make it available only to the wealthy?
[Link] the widespread use of gene therapy make society less accepting of people who are
different?
[Link] people be allowed to use gene therapy to enhance basic human traits such as
height, intelligence, or athletic ability?
6. What is the main definition and goal of gene therapy?
7. How does gene therapy work to treat or prevent diseases?
8. What are the different types or techniques of gene therapy?
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9. What are the potential benefits and advantages of this treatment?

10. What are the major risks, side effects, or ethical concerns?
Answer key:

1.) Good used to cure diseases, treat serious illnesses, or fix genetic defects to improve
health and save lives. Bad used purely to change physical appearance, improve athletic
performance, or select traits for vanity or social advantage rather than medical need.
2.) Generally, medical experts, scientists, and ethicists define disorders based on whether a
condition causes pain, reduces function, or shortens life. However, society and laws also play
a role.
3.) Yes, currently. Gene therapy is very expensive to develop and produce. There is a big
concern that it will create inequality, where only rich people can be cured, while poor people
cannot access it.
4.) Yes, it is possible. If people can "fix" or remove certain traits, society might start viewing
those differences as mistakes or problems rather than natural variations.
5.) Most experts say NO. It is generally seen as unethical because it could create unfair
advantages, change human evolution, and lead to pressure on parents to design "perfect"
children.

6.) It is a medical technique that changes the genes inside your body's cells to treat or stop
disease. To replace a faulty gene, add a new gene, or turn off a bad gene to cure the disease
or help the body fight better.
7.) Doctors use a carrier called a vector (usually a harmless virus) to deliver the healthy gene
into the cells. Once inside, the new gene gives the cell instructions to work correctly again,
fixing the problem or fighting the illness.
8.) Changes genes in body cells like blood or liver cells. This affects only the patient and
cannot be passed to children.
9.)It can treat cancer very specifically without harming healthy cells. It offers a permanent
solution rather than lifelong medication.
10.) The immune system might attack the treated cells, causing inflammation or fever. The
gene might go into the wrong spot and cause cancer or other damage.

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SCIENCE, TECHNNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

CHAPTER III:
SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY

Lesson 6: CLIMATE CHANGE

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

 Identify the causes of climate change;

 Understand the effects of climate change on the society; and
 Illustrate how the community helps in mitigating the hazards caused by climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body that
evaluates climate change science, released its report on global climate change. The report's
important conclusions were the following: world's climate has changed significantly over the
past century; the significant change has human influence; using climate models and if the
trend continues, the global mean surface temperature will increase between 1°C and 3.5°C
by 2100.
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Why should a few degrees of warming be a cause for a concern?

According to experts, global climate change could have a greater potential to change
life in our planet than anything else except a nuclear war. These changes will also lead to a
number of potentially serious consequences.

Climate change

refers to the statistically significant changes in climate for continuous period of time.
Factors that contribute to climate change can be natural internal process, external forces, and
persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use. It can
also be due to natural occurrences or contributed by acts of human beings.

Causes of Climate Change

The causes of climate change could be:

 natural
 human activities

Natural Causes

Volcanic Eruptions

Volcanic eruptions are one of the natural causes of climate change. When volcanoes
erupt, it emits different natural aerosols like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, salt crystals,
volcanic ashes or dust, and even microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. The volcanic
eruption can cause a cooling effect to the lithosphere because its emitted aerosol can block a
certain percentage of solar radiation. This cooling effect can last for one to two years.

What happens in violent volcanic eruptions is the release of ash particles in the
stratosphere. The volcanic ashes which have sulfur dioxide combine with water vapor. It then
forms to sulfuric acid and sulfurous aerosols. The sulfurous aerosols then are transported by
easterly or westerly winds. Volcanoes located near the equator are more likely to cause global
cooling because of the wind pattern. Volcanoes located near to north or south poles are less
likely to cause cooling because of pole wind pattern, the sulfurous aerosols are confined in
pole area.

There are several recorded major volcanic eruptions that cause climate change. Mount
Tambora of Indonesia erupted in 1816. It was considered as the largest known eruption in
human history. The eruption caused snowfall in the northeastern United States and Canada. It
affected their agricultural lands, losing crops that caused food shortage and increased human
mortality. The eruptions of Mount Krakatau of Indonesia in 1883 and Mount Pinatubo of the
Philippines in 1991 contributed, too, to the cold years of planet Earth.

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Orbital Changes

Earth's orbit can also cause climate change. This was proposed by the Milankovitch
theory. The Milankovitch theory states "that as the Earth travels through space around the
Sun, cyclical variations in three elements of Earth-Sun geometry combine to produce
variations in the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth (Academic Emporia, 2017).

The three elements that have cyclic variations are:

 eccentricity
 obliquity
 precession

Eccentricity

is a term used to describe the shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun. The impact of the
variation is a change in the amount of solar energy from perihelion (around January 3) to
aphelion (around July 4). The time frame for the cycle is approximately 98,000 years
(Academic Emporia, 2017). Currently Earth's eccentricity is 0.016 and there is about a 6.45%
increase in insolation from July to January (Academic Emporia, 2017). Academic Emporia
(2017) states "The eccentricity influences seasonal differences: when Earth is closest to the
Sun, it gets more solar radiation. If the perihelion occurs during the winter, the winter is less
severe. If a hemisphere has its summer while closest to the Sun, summers are relatively
warm."

Obliquity

is the variation of the tilt of Earth's axis away from the orbital plane. As this tilt changes,
the seasons become more exaggerated. The obliquity changes on a cycle taking
approximately 40,000 years. Academic Emporia (2017) states "the more tilt means more
severe seasons-warmer summers and colder winters, less tilt means less severe seasons-
cooler summers and milder winters."

Precession

is the change in orientation of Earth's rotational axis. The precession cycle takes about
19,000 to 23,000 years. Precession is caused by two factors: a wobble of Earth's axis and a
turning around of the elliptical orbit of Earth itself (Academic Emporia, 2017). Obliquity
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affected the tilt of Earth's axis, precession affects the direction of Earth's axis. The change in

the axis location changes the dates of perihelion (closest distance from Sun) and aphelion
(farthest distance from Sun), and this increases the seasonal contrast in one hemisphere
while decreasing it in the other hemisphere (Academic Emporia, 2017). Currently, Earth is
closest to the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere winter, which makes the winters there less
severe (Academic Emporia, 2017).

Another consequence of precession is a shift in the celestial poles. Five thousand years
ago, the North Star was Thuban in the constellation Draco. Currently, the North Star is Polaris
in the constellation Ursa Minor.

During the 1940s and 1950s, the theory fell into disrepute due to radiocarbon dating,
indicating a lag in cooling versus insolation and to a scale problem with high frequency glacial
advances (Academic Emporia, 2017). The theory was revived several times throughout the
late 1960s to the present (Academic Emporia, 2017).

The Carbon Dioxide Theory

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is added when power and heat are produced by burning coal, oil,
and other fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is transparent to sunshine but not invisible to infrared
(heat) radiation leaving the ground. Carbon dioxide absorbs part of the infrared radiation in
the air and returns it to the ground keeping the air near the surface warmer than it would be if
the carbon dioxide did not act like a blanket. Doubling the carbon dioxide raises the
temperature to 2°C to 3°C.

Human Activities

Human activities contribute to climate change. The largest known contribution comes
from the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases and aerosols affect climate by altering incoming solar radiation and
outgoing infrared (thermal) radiation that are part of Earth's energy balance. Changing the
atmospheric abundance or properties of these gases and particles can lead to a warming or
cooling of the climate system. Since the start of the industrial era (about 1750), the overall
effect of human activities on climate has been a warming influence. The human impact on
climate during this era greatly exceeds that due to known changes in natural processes, such
as solar changes and volcanic eruptions. Human activities result in emissions of four principal
greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH), nitrous oxide (N2O) and the
halocarbons (a group of gases containing fluorine, chlorine, and bromine). These gases
accumulate in the atmosphere, causing concentrations to increase with time
([Link]).

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The greenhouse gases mentioned are natural gases. However, the high level of these

gases in the atmosphere contributes to the greenhouse effect. The increasing amount of
these gases is due to human activities. High level of carbon dioxide comes from fossil fuel
use in transportation; and the building, heating, cooling, and manufacture of cement and other
goods. Deforestation releases carbon dioxide and reduces its uptake by plants. High methane
emission is related to agriculture, natural gas distribution, and landfills. High nitrous oxide is
also emitted by human activities such as fertilizer use and fossil fuel burning. Halocarbon gas
concentrations have increased primarily due to human activities. Principal halocarbons
include the chlorofluorocarbons (e.g., CFC-11 and CFC-12) which were used extensively as
refrigeration agents and in other industrial processes before their presence in the atmosphere
was found to cause stratospheric ozone depletion. The abundance of chlorofluorocarbon
gases is decreasing as a result of international regulations designed to protect the ozone
layer (The Encyclopedia of Earth, 2016).

Ozone is another greenhouse gas that is continually produced and destroyed in the
atmosphere by chemical reactions. In the troposphere, human activities have increased
ozone through the release of gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen
oxide, which chemically react to produce ozone.

Halocarbons released by human activities destroy ozone in the stratosphere and have
caused the ozone hole over Antarctica. While water vapor is the most abundant and important
greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, human activities have only a small direct influence on the
amount of atmospheric water vapor. Indirectly, humans have the potential to affect water
vapor substantially by changing climate.

For example, a warmer atmosphere contains more water vapor. Human activities also
influence water vapor through CH emissions, because CH undergoes chemical destruction in
the stratosphere, producing a small amount of water vapor, and aerosols, the small particles
present in the atmosphere with widely varying size, concentration, and chemical composition.
Some aerosols are emitted directly into the atmosphere while others are formed from emitted
compounds. Aerosols contain both naturally occurring compounds and those emitted as a
result of human activities. Fossil fuel and biomass burning have increased aerosols
containing sulphur compounds, organic compounds, and black carbon (soot), Human
activities such as surface mining and industrial processes have increased dust in the
atmosphere (IPCC, 2007). On September 16, 1986, an international treaty was adapted. It is
called the Montreal Protocol. The treaty aimed to regulate the production and use of
chemicals that contribute to Ozone layer depletion (Britannica, 2017).

Effects of Climate Change on Society

Climate change could cause severe affects to all life forms around our planet. It direct
affects the basic elements of people's lives like water, food, health, use of land, and the
environment.
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With the average global temperature which is predicted to rise by 2 to 3°C within the next

fifty years, glaciers will continue to melt faster. Melting glaciers will increase flood risks during
the wet season and strongly reduce dry-season water supplies to one-sixth of the world's
population, predominantly in the Indian subcontinent, parts of China, and the Andes in South
America. Declining crop yields due to drought, especially in Africa, are likely to leave
hundreds of millions without the ability to produce or purchase sufficient food. At mid to high
latitudes, crop yields may increase for moderate temperature rises (2 to 3°C), but then decline
with greater amounts of warming. Ocean edification, a direct result of rising carbon dioxide
levels, will have major effects on marine ecosystems, with possible adverse consequences on
fish stocks (Stem, 2007).

Ecosystems will be particularly vulnerable to climate change, with one study estimating
that around 15-40% of species face extinction with 2°C of warming. The consequences of
climate change will become disproportionately more damaging with increased warming.
Higher temperatures will increase the chance of triggering abrupt and large-scale changes
that lead to regional disruption, migration, and conflict. Warming may induce sudden shifts in
regional weather patterns like the monsoons or the El Niño. Such changes would have severe
consequences for water availability and flooding in tropical regions and threaten the
livelihood.

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