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Activity 9 . Now, that you know the essential concepts and terms in the study of
applications and effects of biotechnology and biodiversity to the society. Let‘s try
to check your understanding on these concepts. Identify what is being asked in
the following questions below:
GENETIC MODIFICATION 1. When a scientist is identifying a trait from an
organism and used them to develop an specialized
trait of a crop. What is this processed called?
All materials to satisfy needs, beginning with oxygen, shelter, food, water, all come
from the environment. The environment is in fact the support system for life. The
environment provides services to society through the ecosystems. Ecosystem
services are defined as the benefits people derive from ecosystems – supporting the
sustainable human well-being ecosystems provide, such as drinking water sources,
waterways, timber, weather, and storm protection from forests, grasslands,
agricultural fertility, human waste decomposition, etc. They are mostly not
monetizable and tradable and our economic valuation methods are inadequate for
weighing ecosystem services properly in the long term.
So if you trash, pollute and destroy the environment, you eventually trash your life
support and you live in truly desperate circumstances or die (unless you are really
rich and can leave the planet or successfully build and support your own artificial
system and you don’t mind everyone else having problems).
Pros:
Cons:
Allergic reactions
Some people believe that GMO foods have more potential to trigger allergic
reactions. This is because they may contain genes from an allergen — a food
that prompts an allergic reaction. The World Health Organization (WHO)
discourage genetic engineers from using DNA from allergens unless they can
prove that the gene itself does not cause the problem.
Cancer
Some researchers believe that eating GMO foods can contribute to the
development of cancer. They argue that because the disease is caused by
mutations in DNA, it is dangerous to introduce new genes into the body.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) have said that there is no evidence for this.
However, they note that no evidence of harm is not the same as proof of safety
and that reaching a conclusion will require more research.
Antibacterial resistance
There is concern that genetic modification, which can boost a crop’s resistance to
disease or make it more tolerant to herbicides, could affect the ability of people to
defend against illness.
There is a small chance that the genes in food can transfer to cells the body or
bacteria in the gut. Some GMO plants contain genes that make them resistant to
certain antibiotics. This resistance could pass on to humans. There is growing
concern globally that people are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
There is a chance that GMO foods could be contributing to this crisis. The WHO
have said that the risk of gene transfer is low. As a precaution, however, it has
set guidelines for the manufacturers of GMO foods.
Outcrossing
Outcrossing refers to the risk of genes from certain GMO plants mixing with
those of conventional crops. There have been reports of low levels of GMO crops
approved as animal feed or for industrial use being found in food meant for
human consumption.
1. Biotechnology has helped improve the quality of people’s lives for over
10,000 years. Current biotechnology has opened doors for many applications
such as agriculture, therapeutics, diagnostics, waste treatment, food
processing, bioremediation, and energy production. It is practically used as
much as we can to create advantages in our lives and to benefit society.
3. Biotechnologies today vary in complexity and application. Yet all of them have
the potential to change our society. While the intention behind biotechnologies
is to benefit our society, determining what impact such as the harm that it can
do to human health, a particular biotechnology may have, for me, is still, too
complex.