STS Education - Alkenhead, 1994 ● Global Warming (GW) Societal

Response
● The main aim is to be aware of the ● Technologies leading to GW
environmental situation ● Science concepts about GW
● Identification of Research Gaps ● Science Skills
● Utilize the discoveries of our ● Technologies to address GW
natural environment
● Sustainability (know what is bad Global Citizenship (GC) and Global
for the environment so future Citizenship Education (GCE)
generations can keep using it)
● Further improve the natural ● GE described “a sense of
environment (ex. Airplanes, more belonging to a broader
friendly gas or materials) community beyond national
● Students have a key role in boundaries that emphasizes our
developing technology and common humanity and draws on
sharing information (ex. pollution the interconnections between the
- littering) local and the global, the national
and the international
STS Educational Viewpoints
Importance of STS
● Its prominence in the school ● Environmentally, Socially and
science curriculum Politically aware
● Ensure the development of a ● Ex. Implementation of Earth Day
broad-based science curriculum, ● “Is gasoline a good disinfectant?”
embedded in the cultural, socio-
political contexts in which it was STS as part of your Thomasian
formulated (Fensham, 1985) Identity
● Students engagement with ● The principle of common good
different perspectives on social ● Shared resources that we have
issues concerning the impact of ● Everyone has access to these
science and technology on resources where exploitation is
everyday life (Fensham, 1988) not present
● In the Philippines, not everyone
Examples: has access to these resources
● Cloning - replicate a thing or
organism PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
● Genetically Modified Organism ● Philos - Love
(GMO) to prolong food ingredients ● Sophos - Wisdom
● Love of Wisdom
● Continuous study in search of
wisdom
Paradigm of STS Teaching & Learning ● Knowing how to observe and
analyze
Why do we need Philosophy?
● Philosophies help teachers to
reflect on key issues and concepts Vienna Circle
in education ● Group of early twentieth century
● Usually through questions such philosophers
as: ● Sought to reconceptualize
○ What is being educated? empiricism by means of their
○ What is good life? interpretation of then recent
○ What is knowledge? advances in the physical and
○ What is the nature of formal sciences
learning?
○ What is teaching? Major Figures
● Philosophers think about the ● Karl Popper: known for his
meaning of things and criticism of falsifiability. Popper
interpretation of that meaning argued that for a theory to be
● Examples: scientific, it must be testable and
○ Good life: subjective - what refutable
makes us happy? ● Thomas Kuhn: introduced the
memorie, contentment concept of paradigm shifts,
○ knowledge is what you emphasizing that scientific
know outside the progress is not linear but occurs
classroom (street smart) through revolutionary changes in
○ Nature of learning: scientific thought
differences on what we ● Paul Feyerabend: critiqued the
learn depending where we idea of a universal scientific
learn it method suggesting that science
does not adhere to a single
Science Philosophical Problems methodology and that various
● Ethical: Study of values is human approaches can be valid
behavior of the study of moral ● Helen Longino: Focused on the
problems e.g. the rightness or social dimensions of science,
wrongness arguing that scientific knowledge
● Epistemological: Study of is shaped by social interactions
knowledge, focuses on how we and public scrutiny
come to acquire knowledge and
what types of limits there are to 3 Branches of Philosophy
our knowledge 1. Metaphysics
● Metaphysical: The study of what a. one of the key concepts of
is real deals with the so called understanding
first principles of the natural philosophy”
order and the ultimate b. Concerned with reality and
generalizations available to the existence
human intellect
 c. Asks: What is the nature of ● Social Science
reality?
d. Subdivided into 2 Key Concept
categories ● Science is based on facts
i. Ontology: What is
the nature of Inductivism
existence ● Proposes and rests on common
ii. Cosmetology: Origin understanding of the laws of the
and Organization of universe; there are laws of nature
the universe uniformities that govern these
2. Epistemology laws
a. Raises questions about the ● Facts are observable and that
nature of knowledge theories could be derived from
b. Logic is a key dimension to these facts by observation
epistemology ● Observation using the senses
c. Two kinds of logic ● Seeing is believing
i. Deductive: General ● Observable facts are objective
to Specific
ii. Inductive: Specific Hypothetico - Deductivism
facts to ● Rejects the context of discovery
generalization ● Hypothetico-deductivism asserts
3. Axiology that “facts” are not always
a. Explores the nature of observable
values ● Facts have come to scientists not
b. 2 Categories by observation but rather by
i. Ethics: Study of accident through deaths, visions,
human conduct and pre-existing theories.
examines moral ● Rejects the notion that facts are
values neutral and objective
ii. Aesthetics: Values ● Theories are confirmed not
beauty, nature, and proven yet every instance that
aesthetic experience lends support corroborates the
(often with music, theory
art, literature, ● Example: the research of charles
dance theater and lyell
other fine arts)
Falsificationism
The Sciences ● Also rejects the context or
● Mathematics - Theorems and discovery
Axioms ● Confirmation of hypothesis is not
● Physics - Measurement enough
● Biology - Structure and Function
● Psychology
 ● No specific number of
confirmation will make any It is in this period revolutionary science
hypothesis true that theories are checked, previously
● A body of science must be held formulations are re-analyzed and
falsifiable possible refutation are generated, for a
● The notion of scientific progress new paradigm, or paradigm shift to
for the falsificationist rest on the occur
premise that scientific theories
are tentative Solving Problems is Scientific Progress

Conjecture and Refutation Scientific Method

● Science must continue to ● Ask a question (Problem)
progress through an open quest ● Define Problem Statement
to put existing theories to the test, (Research)
allowing pre-conceived notions ● Construct the Hypothesis
○ Thomas Kuhn famously (Hypothesize)
published The Structures ● Test the hypothesis (Experiment)
of Scientific Revolution in ● Collect the Data (Analyze)
1962, a publication that ● Report the Result (Interpret)
brought previous theories
in the history and Types of Data
philosophy of science into ● Quantitative Data
a whole new context ○ Numeric Variables
○ Coined the term ○ How many
“paradigm” ○ How much
○ How often
● Qualitative Data
○ Categorical Variables
○ What type
○ From where
○ Qualities

Types of Data Collection

● Qualitative Data
○ Diary accounts, in-depth
interviews, documents,
focus groups, case study,
research, and
ethnography, open-ended
surveys
○ Provide a deep
Normal Science vs Revolutionary understanding of how
Science people perceive their social
 realities and in ➔ Do you get the same
consequence how they act results when you repeat
with the social world the experiment?
○ Why do you prefer to use ● Internal Consistency (across
cloth masks vs surgical items)
masks? ➔ The consistency of the
● Quantitative Data measurement itself.
○ Laboratory and field ➔ Do you get the same
experimentations, rating results from different parts
scales, closed survey of an experiment that are
questions such as “Yes” or designed to measure the
“No” which can have same things?
numerical categories ● Interrater Reliability (across
○ Statistics help turn researchers)
quantitative data into
➔ The consistency of a
useful information that are
measure across raters or
crucial for decision making
observers.
○ Scientifically Objective and
➔ Do you get the same
Rational
results when different
○ Why do you prefer to use
people conduct the same
cloth masks vs surgical
experiment?
masks? Choose only 1
■ Environmentally
Validity
Friendly
● Refers to how accurately a
■ Cost-Effective
method measures what it is
■ Fashionable
intended to measure. If research
■ Reusable
has high validity, that means it
■ Its the only mask
produces results that correspond
available near me
to real properties, characteristics,
Reliability
and variations in the physical or
● Refers to how consistently a
social world.
method measures something. If
the same result can be
Note: High reliability is one indicator
consistently achieved by using
that a measurement is valid. If a method
the same methods under the
is not reliable, it probably isn’t valid.
same circumstances, the
measurement is considered
● Face Validity
reliable.
➔ The extent to which a
● Test-Retest Reliability (across
measurement method
time)
appears “on its face” to
➔ The consistency of a
measure the construct of
measure across time.
interest. E.g. IQ Test
● Construct validity
 ➔ Used to ensure that the Validity
measure is actual measure Definition: The extent to which the
what it is intended to results really measure what they are
measure (i.e. the supposed to measure.
construct), and not other Assessment: By checking how well the
variables. E.g self-esteem results correspond to established
questionnaire theories and other measures of the same
● Content Validity concept.
➔ The extent to which the Relation: A valid measurement is
measurement covers all generally reliable: if a test produces
the aspects of the concepts accurate results, they should be
being measured. E.g. reproducible.
Comprehension test.
● Criterion validity Always remember CRAAP
➔ The extent to which the
result of a measure Currency - Is the information current?
corresponds to other valid Relevance - Is the information
measures of the same important?
concept. E.g survey Authority - Who is the
● Discriminant Validity author/publisher/sponsor of the news?
Accuracy - Is the information supported
➔ The extent to which scores
by evidence? Does the author cite
on a measure are not
credible sources? Is the information
correlated with measures
verifiable in other places?
of variable that are
Purpose - What is the purpose of this
conceptually distinct. E.g.
news?
Self-esteem

Reliability VS. Validity ❖ Look for bias

❖ Check credentials
Reliability ❖ Check the sources
Definition: The extent to which the ❖ Check the dates
results can be reproduced when the ❖ Judge hard
research is repeated under the same
conditions. VIDEO: SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
Assessment: By checking the THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF
consistency of results across time, MANKIND
across different observers, and across
parts of the test itself. Prehistory (started with the emergence
Relation: A reliable measurement is not of human and ended with the inventions
always valid: the results might be of writing system) —->
reproducible, but they’re not necessarily Industrialization —-> Anthropocene
correct.
Paleolithic (2M-10,000 BC) sheeps, cows - for milk, for
● Dominated by stone (paleolithic warmth, for shelter)
means old stone) ● They cultivated lands using
● Longest period of time in the improved tools that they had
history ● Lifestyle became sedentary (they
● Emergence of homo sapiens were no longer nomads, they dont
● Humans are considered nomads have to move from one place to
(moving from one place to another another to search for food as they
and search for food). They are have known how to make their
known to be hunters and own foods and raised animals for
collectors, and they live in tribes. food, etc)
● Uses fire by rubbing sticks and ● Settlements usually seen near
stones together - fire is used to lands where they can plant,
keep them warm and cook their where there’s plenty of water, and
food other resources
● Stone tools they used were made ● Because of the abundance of
from shaping one stone to food, the population started to
another and/or sticks used for grow and social systems are now
hunting and fishing made (nagkaroon ng tribes, after
○ Examples: Hand axe, tribes nagkaroon chiefs and other
Hammerstone, Bone positions)
Needle ● Tools were made by friction and
● In the latter stages of this age, polishing the stone (plow and
men continue progressing and sickle, pottery and ceramics, etc)
becoming more intelligent and
improve their lifestyle and with Ancient (3000BC)
that, they discover they can ● Very popular due to series made
raise/make their own food, and and interests of people
do agricultural works. (With this ● Famous Contributions
discovery, that ended paleolithic ○ Sumerian: Plow and
age) Cuneiform
○ Romans: Codex or Books
Neolithic (10,000BC) ○ Egyptians: Papyrus (their
● Neolithic means neo stones version of paper)
● Stone tools that they use from the ○ Chinese: Gun Powder,
previous age were seen here, but Great Wall of China, Tea
it is more improved and and Silk
advanced. ● There were developments of
● They raise their own food and Ancient Cities such as Rome,
cattle China, Mesopotamia, Egypt
● They have learned how to
domesticate animals (goat, Modern Civilization
 ● Highlighted with the emergence of in recent centuries as so significant as to
usage of coal, iron and textiles, constitute a new geological time.
etc
● Popular Contribution: Steam Since then, we had problems in
Engine - reminder that the agriculture, climate change, etc. With
revolutionary technology often is advancement, there is also a destruction
a new invention, but just an to the environment.
improved version of an existing
one Significant contributions:
● Trains gaveway to industrial ● Nuclear Weapons
civilization, but this also resulted ○ Warfares have left their
to destruction of rural lands mark on geology
(division between social classes ○ When the first nuclear
and urbanization) weapon was detonated on
● Rise of factories, made rise to July 16, 1946 in New
social structures between owners Mexico
and laborers, which gave birth to
environmental problems ● Fossil Fuels
● Rise of communication ○ Burning fossil fuels mark
technologies such as: anthropocene age
○ Telephone (1876) - ○ Currenr rates of carbon
Alexander Graham Bell emission are thought to be
○ Automobile - Henry Ford higher than at any time in
○ Airplane - Brothers Orville the last 65 million years.
and Willbur Wright ● As the year progress, carbon
emissions increase.
The Anthropocene (Present)
● The Rise of Human Empire ● Plastic Use
● The era in which human activity ○ Initially developed in the
has been the dominant influence 1990s, have grown rapidly
on climate and the environment since 1950s, and we now
produce 500 million tons a
Scientists in the Soviet Union appear to year
have used the term “Anthropocene” as ○ Sediments containing
early as the 1960s to refer to the plastics will be a clear sign
Quatemary, the most recent geological of the Anthropocene
period.
● Change Geology
The term was widely popularized in 2000 ○ every time we destroy a
by atmospheric chemist Paul J. patch of rainforest, this
Crutzen, who regards the influence of changes the future of the
human behavior on Earth’s atmosphere Earth’s geology
 ○ We have transformed more ○ Average global sea levels
than 50% of the Earth’s are higher than at any
land area for our own point in the past 115,000
purposes years and are rising
○ Deforestation, farming, rapidly, which may also be
drilling, mining, landfills, detectable in the future.
dam-building, and coastal ● 6th Mass Extinction
reclamation are all having ○ the moment of extinction is
widespread effects on the generally considered to be
sedimentary processes the death of the last
○ Disrupting how layers of individual of the species
rock are laid down, which ○ Mass extinctions sparked
will be detectable by massive global changes
thousands of years in the mark the anthropocene
future period.

● Use of Fertilizers
○ Our attempts to feed an The Dark Side of Technology
increasing population will
leave clear indicators, too Technology is mostly a positive
○ Levels of nitrogen and endeavor, except for some troubling and
phosphorous in soils have unnerving possibilities Michio Kaku
doubled in the last century refers to as “wildcards”
because of our increased
use of fertilizers The unaticipated uses of technology
○ We produce 23.5million and sciencfe threaten to tum happy
tons of phosphorous a year futuristic dreams into nightmares
○ Human activity had the
biggest impact on the “There are dangers, but only dangers if
nitrogen cycle for 2.5 people don’t understand where
billion years technology is taking us.” - Michio Kaku
● Global Warming
○ unusually rapid increase Part 2: Human Advancement Through
in Earth’s average surface Science and Technology
temperature over the past
century primarily due to Pre-Colonial Period
the greenhouse gases - herbal medicines were used to
released as people burn treat illness
fuels - Writing, numerical, measurement
○ Rate of temperature and calendar systems were used
increase has nearly for trading
doubled in the last 50
years
 - Farming, fishing, mining and - Established several agencies and
weaving were first livelihood skills organizations
developed - Philippine Coconut Research
Institute
Colonial Period - Philippine Textile Research
spanish occupation Institute
- formal education institutions - Philippine Atomic Energy
were developed and scientific Commission (Philippine Nuclear
organizations were launched Institute)
- Medicine and biology wee taught - Philippine Council for Agriculture
in different educational and Research (Philippine Council for
training institutions Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural
- The natives were trained to use Resources Research and
innovative approaches in farming Development
- Engineering was introduced and - Philippine Atmospheric,
developed as well Geophyscial and Astronomical
American occupation Services Administration
- Institutions for science and (PAGASA)
technology were recognized as - Philippine National Oil Company
well - Plant Breeding Institute
- Laboratorio Municipal was - International Rice Research
replaced by Bureau of Institute (IRRI)
Government Laboratories and - Bureau of Plant Industry
was changed to Bureau of Science - National Committee on Geological
- The National Research Council of Sciences
the Philippines was established in - National Academy of Science
1933 and Technology
- Developments were focused on
agriculture, medicine, and - President Corazon Aquino
pharmacy, food processing, and - National Science and Technology
forestry Authority was renamed
- The Bureau of Science was Department of Science and
replaced by the Institute of Technology
Science in 1946 - President Fidel Ramos
- 3000 competent scientists
Post-colonial Period - “Doctor to the Barrio” made
- continued progress in science healthcare accessible in the far-
and technology flung areas of the country
- President Ferdinand Marcos - The National Program for Gifted
- Mandated DEC (DepEd) to Filipino Children in Science and
promote science courses in public Technology was created for
highschool highschool students
 - Number of laws and statutes were - S&T sector is seen to be a priority
mandated based budget on the budget for
- RA8349: Magna Carta for research and development (R&D)
Scientist Engineers, Researchers, - Philippine Space Technology
and Other Science and Program
Technology Personnel in - Maya-1 and Diwata-2 in 2018
Government - Diwata-1 in 2016
- RA7687: Science and Technology - Importance of disaster
Scholarship Act of 1994 preparedness
- RA7459: Investors and Inventions
Incentives Act Science and Technology in the
- RA8293: The Intellectual Philippines and the Environment
Property Code of the
Philippines Contributions
1. Mechanization of farming
President Joseph Estrada 2. Water pumps and sprinklers help
- RA8749: Clean Air Act of 1999 in managing
- RA8792: Electronic Commerce
Act of 2000 Adverse Impacts
- Implementation of cost effective 1. Depletion of earth’s natural
irrigation technologies and resources
providing basic health care 2. Generation of wastes
services for those who could not 3. People became too dependent on
afford them science and technology
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
- Filipinnovation - Philippines as Philippine Inventions
an innovation hub in Asia ● Salamander Amphibious Tricycle:
- RA9367: Biofuels Act Atoy Llave
- RA10601: Agriculture and ● SALt Lamp: Aisa Mijeno
Fisheries Mechanization Act ○ Sustainable Alternative
(AfMech) Lighting
President Benigno Aquino III
- National Scientists (Accessibility | Electricity, Connects
- Gavin C. Trono - Marine Biology Land and Water, Sustainability)
- Angel C. Alcala - Biological
Science ● Medical Incubator: Dr. Fe Del
- Ramon C. Barba - Horticulture Mundo
- Edgardo D. Gomez - Marine ● Mosquito Ovicidal / Larvicidal
Biology Trap
○ Dengue Prevention
President Rodrigo Duterte
● Erythromycin: Abelardo Aguilar
○ Streptomyces erythreus
 ● Mole Remover: Rolando Dela Cruz ● Technology is viewed as a tool
○ Annacardium Occidentale available to individuals, groups,
and communities that desire to
(Discoveries) make an impact on society

1. Invention - fabrication of existing Anthropological: Technology is a

concept human activity
2. Discoveries - yet to discover ● Human activity to achieve an end
and to produce and use a means
● Jeepneys to an end is by itself
○ One of the most ● The production of invention of
recognizable national technological equipment, tools
symbols and machines, the products and
● Banana Ketchup: Maria Orosa inventions, and the purpose and
○ Mashed Banana, Sugar, functions they serve are what
Vinegar and Spices define technology

Technology and the Future of Neither one touches the true essence of
Humanity technology

● Technology: Augmentation of Technology as a way of revealing

human idea ● Heidegger: True can only be
pursued by the correct
Essence of Technology ● What is correct leads to what is
true
● Science and Technology: ● Envisioned technology as a way of
responsible for the ways society is revealing “bringing forth”
continuously being modernized
● However, this omnipresence if S Modern Technology: bringing forth or
& T must not overlap the basic challenging forth?
tenets of ethics and morality ● Modern Technology challenges
nature to reveal itself
Martin Heidegger (1977): The ● Nature as standing-reverse that
question concerning technology can be disposed of by those who
● Defined technology as (1) binds them
instrumental and (2)
Anthropological “Enframing” as Modern Technology’s
Way of Revealing
Instrumental: Technology is a means ● Modern Technology challenges
to an end humans to enframe nature
● Technology is not an end in itself: ● Destining - Humans, to be
it is a means to an end exploited as an instrument of
● Aimed as to how things get done
 Technology , For enframing of including any posttranslational
nature modified forms as well as their
cellular localization, functions
and interactions
Two Ways of Looking at the World ● Genomics was made possible by
● Calculative Thinking: Desire to the invention of techniques of
put an order to nature recombinant DNA, also known as
● Meditative Thinking: Allows gene cloning of genetic
nature to reveal itself engineering

Dangers of Technology Biotechnology

● Lies in how humans let ● The use of living organisms in any
themselves be consumed by it form for the convenience of life
● Humans think nature needs to be
saved, whereas mother nature Traditional Biotechnology
would remain even if humans ● Used in food preservation and
cease to exist production of food
● We must not be consumed by ● Drying or “dehydrating” food is a
technology lest we lose the method of food preservation that
essence of who we are as humans removes enough moisture from
the food so bacteria , yeast and
Technological Advantages molds cannot grow
● Efficiency ○ Dried Fish
● Time ○ Dried Fruits
● Communication ● Fermentation is process where
● Jobs microorganisms are used to
● Education produce a product
● Transportation ○ Wine
● Creation ○ Kimchi
○ Achara
Biological Technologies could shape ○ Pickle
the society
● Genomics and proteomics Modern Biotechnology
● Biotechnology including cloning, ● Gives scientists molecular tools
genetic engineering, CRISPR for obtaining a better
● Synthetic Biology understanding in living organism

Genomics and Proteomics Aims of Modern Technology

● Genomics - deals with the DNA ● Develop new precision tools and
sequence organization, function diagnostics
and evolution ● Speed up breeding gains and
● Proteomics 0 aims to identify all efficiency
the proteins in a cell or organism
 ● Develop pest and disease- Techniques” and “Genetic
resistant crops Engineering”
● Combat salinity, drought and ● Sort into two groups
problems of agriculture ○ Traditional
● Enhance the nutritional quality of ○ Genetic Engineering
food
● Increase crop varieties and choice What’s the difference?
● Reduce inputs and production
costs
● Increase profits

Genetically Modified Organisms

(GMOs)
● GMOs are organisms whose
genetic material (DNA) has been
modified in a way at does not
occur naturally, i.e. through the
introduction of a gene from a
different organisms.

GMO’s have different names:

● Genetically engineered crops (GE)
● Transgenic or Biotech crops GMO Characteristics
● Genetically Modified Crops ● Herbicide tolerance - ceop can
withstand herbicide applications.
● Insect tolerance - plant produces
What is a GMO? toxin to kill pest
● Man has been manipulating DNA ● Improved nutrition - plant
in plants and animals for millenia produces a substance of nutritive
value or is changed to not
Before Domestication produce harmful substances
● So many of our most common ● Disease Resistance - crop is
foodstuffs look nothing like their resistant to certain disease
ancestors ● Stress Tolerance - Crop is tolerant
● Since humans have started of stress, low nutrient levels pr
domesticating plants for wide excess nutrients
spread production we have ● Increased storage - crop can be
chosen the traits we want to see stores longer to avoid spoilage
in plants losses
● Medicinal uses - crops that
Are they really the same? produce medicines or vaccines
● These six represent both ● Industrial uses - crops to make
“Traditional Breeding more efficient industries
 - Distribution to the public is
Example of GMO relatively easy
- Cheap alternative in providing the
Corn borer Vitamin-A requirement compared
- an insect native to Europe that to other supplementary measures
infects corn and other important - Sustainable option as once
crops such as apples and cotton released for common cultivation,
- Was later introduced to the US can be cultivated in every growing
and other countries season by farmer saved seeds.
- Corn borer caterpillars damage
the ears of corn, as well as the Why is there a need for GMOs?
stalks, by chewing tunnels, which Advantage:
cause the plants to fall over ● Can help address the current
problem in food security
Optimization of Culture Conditions ● Higher crop yield
● Bt corn is a GMO that has genes ● Increase shelf life
from the bacteria Bacillus ● Crops with more nutrients
thuringiensis that protect them ● Capable of thriving in regions
from the pest con borer. with poor soil or adverse climate
● Benefits:
- increases yield (and therefore Disadvantages:
profit) since the farmer does not ● Herbicide-resistant and
incur losses from the corn borer pesticide-resistant crops could
- Does not need pesticides to give rise to super-weeds and
combat the corn borer. super-pests that would need
newer, stronger chemicals to
Bacillus thuringiensis destroy them
● A soil bacterium that is ● GMO crops cross-pollinate with
ubiquitous nearby non-GMO plants and
● Produces crystals protein (cry could create ecological problems
proteins) which are toxic to many ● Moral / Religious issues
species of insects
● Insects stop feeding 2 hours after Problems with GMOs
ingestion. It will eventually die ● Lack of education among both
after 2 days if enough toxin were consumers and producers
ingested concerning biotechnology
processes and products
Golden Rice
● A variety of rice that is genetically C.R.I.S.P.R. technology
engineered to contain Beta- ● Clustered
carotene, a precursor of Vitamin ● Regularly
A. ● Interspaced
● Benefits: ● Short
 ● Palindromic b. antigen tests that detect
● Repeats specific proteins on the
surface of the virus.
Used for:
● Cancer 2. Antibody test- looks for
● Blood disorders antibodies that are made by your
● Blindness immune system in response to a
● AIDS threat, such as a specific virus.
● Cystic fibrosis Antibodies can help fight
● Muscular dystrophy infections. Antibodies can take
● Huntington’s Disease several days or weeks to develop
after you have an infection and
may stay in your blood for several
Synthetic Biology weeks or more after recovery.
Because of this, antibody tests
should not be used to diagnose an
active coronavirus infection.

Personal Health Monitoring (PHM)

Wearable Biosensors

● A portable device that can be

worn to record and monitor
health-related data outside the
hospital.

Application:
Coronavirus testing basics ● Remote monitoring of patient
● According to US Food and Drug ● Training support for athlete
Administration ● Monitoring of individuals who
work with hazardous elements
Types of Tests ● Tracking of professional driver’s
vital signs to alert them from
There are two different types of tests – fatigue and drowsiness
diagnostic tests and antibody tests.
Modern Day Telecommunication e-
1. Diagnostic test- show if you have Medicine Online consultation
an active coronavirus infection
and should take steps to NANOTECHNOLOGY
quarantine or isolate yourself
from others. ● Nanotechnology is a part of
a. molecular tests, such as science and technology about the
RT-PCR tests, that detect control of matter on the atomic
the virus’s genetic material
 and molecular scale - this means specially selected traits or
things that are about 100 a baby whose genetic
nanometers across. makeup has been altered
● Refers to manipulation of matter or chosen to provide the
on an atomic to subatomic scale desired genome

Cloning
● Helps in in-depth research, like
motor neuron disease
● Embryonic stem cells can be
cloned to produce tissues or
Consumer Products organs to replace or repair the
● Nanotechnology has already damaged ones
found its way into numerous ● Allow parents who have lost a
consumer products you use child a chance to redress their
everyday, from clothing to skin loss using the DNA of their
lotion. They include: deceased child
○ Silver Nanoparticles in
fabric that kill bacteria Issues
making clothing odor- ● Religious
resistant ○ “Playing God”
○ Skin care products that ○ Human embryo should be
use nanoparticles to left alone
deliver vitamins deeper ○ Takes away the
into the skin uniqueness of an
○ Lithium ion batteries that individual
use nanoparticle-based ● Medical
electrodes powering plug- ○ Success rate 0.1%-3% only
in electric cars ○ Enucleated egg and the
○ Flame retardant formed by transferred nucleus may
coating the foam used in not be compatible
furniture with carbon ○ Pregnancy might fail
nanofibers ○ Problems during later
development
SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS AND ETHICAL ○ Abnormal gene
CONSIDERATIONS expressions
● Australia - Prohibited human
Designer babies cloning; therapeutic cloning is
legal
● Is this kind of technology ethical? ● Canada - prohibits: cloning
○ A baby genetically human, stem cells, growing
engineered in vitro for human embryos for research,
 buying and selling of human
reproductive materials
● India - no specific law but has
specific guidelines prohibiting
human cloning; stem cell
research is allowed
● Argentina - prohibits
“experiments concerning cloning
of human cells in order to
generate human beings”

Issues on Targeted Medications

● Requires skill for administration
and storage
● May produce toxicity symptoms
● Difficult to maintain the stability
of the drug in dosage form
● High sophisticated technology for
formulation
● Insufficient localization of
targeted systems into tumor cells
● Very costly

Issues on eMedicine and

eConsultation
● Regulatory and Industry Barriers
● Physical Examination is Limited
● Equipment and Technology are
costly

Issues on Personal Health Monitoring

(PHM) Wearable Biosensors
● Privacy - leakage of private
information and surveillance
● Overreliance on Wearable sensors
- might reduce the interaction
between the wearer and his/her
physician
● Reliability and accuracy

Issues on Nanotechnology
● Public trust and potential risks
● Issues of environmental impact