STS MODULE 5

 In the study of Alonso and del Dujo (2016), they mentioned that the socio-technical
system as heuristic (enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves)
device.
 It is a good methodological resource to interpret what is happening in education systems
with the progressive introduction of digital technologies, helping us to understand the
changes that are occurring, and documented here, concomitant with the technological
innovation, also involved political factors and economic modelling ending the “new
education.”
 Now, based on research we are a heuristic device to face a “new normal of education” in
this pandemic thus, online class like this, is the progressive introduction of digital
technologies.
 This module tackles specific issues in science and technology in the context of the
information age, biodiversity, and GMO and gene therapy
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Explore the age of information and social media that have influenced society and human
lives;
2. Analyze the interconnections among society, environment, and health, and
3. Scrutinize the moral and ethical issues concerning GMOs and their impact on society.

5.1 INFORMATION AGE

(1) There are certain facts to remember that the age of information has the ff.
developments:
(1.1) The Gutenberg Press invented by German goldsmith, Johannes Gutenberg
around 1440 which resulted to improve the manual, tedious and slow printing
methods.
 This method of the printing press is a device that applies pressure to an inked
surface lying on a print medium, such as cloth or paper, to transfer ink.

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 (1.2) The mass communication was traced back from the invention of the printing
press. In the development of a fast and easy way of disseminating information in
print permanently reformed the structure of society and
(1.3) The rise of the printing press had threatened the political and religious authorities
which impacted the tremendous social change on the wide circulation of
information. Thus, the production of books made accessible not only in the upper
class but in the middle class and lower class as well.

REFER TO PPT – INFORMATION AGE

TECHIE TIMELINE

SUMMARY:
The Gutenberg Press invented by German goldsmith, Johannes Gutenberg around 1440
which resulted to improve the manual, tedious and slow printing methods. The mass
communication was traced back from the invention of the printing press. The rise of the printing
press had threatened the political and religious authorities which impacted the tremendous
social change on the wide circulation of information.

5.1.1 PIONEERS
Some people had contributed to the development of the information age that is as follows:
(1). Harvard Mark 1 – made by the US to address the problem of a serious shortage of
human computers for military calculations. This Harvard Mark 1 is the general-purpose
electromechanical computer that was 50 feet long and capable of doing calculations in seconds
that usually took place in hours
(2) Enigma – was made by Britain to encipher the machine that the German armed forces
used to securely send messages
(3) Alan Turing – an English mathematician who hired in 1936 by British top-secret
Government Code and Cipher School at Bletchley Park to break the Enigma code
(4) Alan Turing invented “Bombe” – an electromechanical machine that encrypted messages
of the German Enigma machine. Thus, this contribution had shortened the war in two years

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(5) Universal Machine – became the foundation computer science and the invention of a
machine later called computer that can solve any problem in performing any task from a written
program
(6) Steve Wozniak – co-founder of Apple I designed the operating system, hardware, and
circuit board of the computer all by himself
(7) Steve Jobs – Wozniak’s friend suggested to sell that Apple I as fully assembled printed
circuit board.

IMPACT OF INFORMATION AGE

The Internet era of the twenty‐first century will be one of unprecedented information exchange
on a global scale, but there is potential for the cultures and values of certain nations to
overwhelm and erase those of other nations. Toru Nishigaki, professor at Tokyo University's
Information Center for Social Science Research on Japan, argues that a multilingual information
processing environment is essential for ensuring a stable order in the twenty‐first century. This
paper was originally presented at the IIPS 10th Anniversary Symposium, “Transforming the
Global Order for the 21st Century,” held in Tokyo on 18–19 May 1998.

5.1.2 SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

10 MOST SECURE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TODAY
1. Telegram 6. Instagram
2. WhatsApp 7. LinkedIn
3. Reddit 8. VKontakte
4. Twitter 9. Facebook
5. YouTube 10. Skype
 These are the development of platforms since then
(1) In 1973 onwards, social media platforms are being introduced in variations of multi-user
chat rooms

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 (2) Instant-messaging applications: AOL, Yahoo messenger, MSN messenger, Windows
(3) Bulletin-board forum systems, game-based social networking sites: Facebook,
Friendster, Myspace
(4) Business-oriented social networking website: Xing
(5) Messaging, video, and voice calling services: Viber, Skype
(6) Blogging platform, image and video hosting websites: Flicker
(7) Discovery and dating-oriented websites: Tagged, Tinder
(8) Video sharing services: Youtube
(9) Real-time social media feed aggregator: FriendFeed
(10) Live-streaming: Justin.tv, Twitch.tv
(11) Photo –video sharing websites: Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, Keek, Vine
(12) Question-and-answer platforms: Quora

SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE, DURING, & AFTER EMERGENCIES

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

This section provides an overview of social media platforms classified by purpose and
function. 27
A. Social Networking
1. Definition: Using websites and applications to communicate informally with others, find
people, and share similar interests

 Allows users to directly connect with one another through groups, networks, and location

2. Examples: Facebook and LinkedIn

    

B. Microblogging
1. Definition: Posting of very short entries or updates on a social networking site

 Allows users to subscribe to other users' content, send direct messages, and reply
publicly
 Allows users to create and share hashtags to share content about related subjects

2. Examples: Twitter and Tumblr

    
3. Additional tool for managing microblogging: TweetDeck

 Tweetdeck downloadable desktop application made exclusively for Twitter, allows for the
organization of tweets through "customizable columns, multiple accounts toggling,

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 scheduling, and automatically refreshing feeds".28 TweetDeck relies on column-based
interface that allows all social media profiles to be viewed in one window. This beginner's
guide to TweetDeck detials how to set-up and customize TweetDeck features to your
agency's needs.

C. Blogging (Using Publishing Websites)

1. Definition: Recording opinions, stories, articles, and links to other websites on a personal
website

2. Examples: Wordpress and Blogger

     
 
D. Photo Sharing
1. Definition: Publishing a user's digital photos, enabling the user to share photos with others
either publicly or privately

2: Examples: Instagram, Flickr, Snapchat and Pinterest

                 

E. Video Sharing
1. Definition: Publishing a user's digital photos, enabling the user to share photos with others
either publicly or privately

 Allows users to embed media in a blog or Facebook post, or link media to a tweet

2. Examples: YouTube, Vimeo, and Periscope

           

F. Crowdsourcing
1. Definition: Obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a
large group of people, particularly those from the online community

2. Examples: Ushahidi, Inc.

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For more information on crowdsourcing, view the Digital Humanitarians TED Talk on the use of
time-critical crowdsourcing to verify social media for disaster response. 29 To view the FEMA
mobile application called "Disaster Reporter," which includes a crowdsourcing component,
click here.30
 
G. Tools for Managing Multiple Social Media Platforms
1. Definition: An aggregator is a tool tht can be used to "aggregate social media site feeds in
one spot, allowing users to search by keywords."31
2. Examples: Hootsuite

HootSuite supports social network integrations for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,

Google+, WordPress, and more. It has a browser-based interface that allows social media
profiles to be viewed in tabs, rather than all in one window. It has the ability to filter messages,
schedule posts, and manage messages through multiple platforms, as well as provide custom
analytics.

5.2 BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTHY SOCIETY

Biodiversity – is the variation of life forms in an environment. Man, animals, plants, insects are
examples of biodiversity. Everything on the Earth or the environment is interconnected with one
another.
ILO – synthesize the biodiversity, environment, and ecosystem

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 Biodiversity is the variety of life – its ecosystems, species, population, and genes.
 Human actions towards the land, freshwater, and oceans have already caused
biodiversity to decline. 
 Even greater losses will occur in the future if humanity continues its present
unsustainable use of natural resources. In documenting this decline, there has been a
focus on species extinctions, the most obvious manifestation of biodiversity loss. In
addition, there is a loss of ecosystems, populations, and genes. 
 All these are the only truly irreversible consequences of environmental change.
 When any of these is lost, it is gone forever. Species losses are also the aspect of
biodiversity loss that is most often considered, for example, by the U.N. Convention on
Biological Diversity.
 Even a species that survives can lose much of its genetic diversity if local populations
are lost from most of its original range. 
 Furthermore, ecosystems may shrink in the area dramatically and lose many of their
functions, even though their constituent species manage to survive.
 The loss of ecosystems, species, populations, and genes all have implications for
human health (Chivian, 2003).

 Johns and Eyzaquirre (2006) conducted a study on Linking Biodiversity, Diet, and Health
in Police and Practice that the simplification of human diets associated with increased
accessibility of inexpensive agricultural commodities and erosion of agro-biodiversity
leads to nutrient deficiencies and excess energy consumption.

 Non-communicable diseases are growing causes of death and disability worldwide.

Successful food systems in transition effectively draw on locally-available foods, food
variety, and traditional food cultures. 

 In practice, this process involves empirical research, public policy, promotion, and
applied action in support of multi-sectoral, community-based strategies linking rural
producers and urban consumers, subsistence and market economies, and traditional
and modern food systems.

 Implementation of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute's Global Nutrition

Strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa offers a useful case study.

 Relevant policy platforms, in which biodiversity conservation and nutrition are and should
be linked, include the Millennium Development Goals, Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment, Convention on Biological Diversity, Global Strategy on Diet, Physical
Activity and Health, Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, Right to Adequate Food and UN
Human Rights Commission's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

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 The largely unexplored health benefits of cultivated and wild plants include micronutrient
intake and functions related to energy density, glycaemic control, oxidative stress, and
immuno-stimulation.

 Research on the properties of neglected and underutilized species and local varieties
deserves higher priority. 

 In tests of the hypothesis that biodiversity is essential for dietary diversity and health,
quantitative indicators of dietary and biological diversity can be combined with nutrition
and health outcomes at the population level. 

 That traditional systems once lost are hard to recreate underlines the imperative for
timely documentation, compilation, and dissemination of eroding knowledge of
biodiversity and the use of food culture for promoting positive behaviors.

  This study conducted in the Philippines by Tumbaga, Hipolito, and Gabriel (2020)
on Community participation toward biodiversity conservation among protected areas in
Pangasinan, Philippines. 
 They said that the understanding of community participation in biodiversity conservation
among developing countries, such as the Philippines, is still lacking and needs to be
supplemented. 
 This study aimed to determine the community participation toward biodiversity
conservation in two communities located at two Protected Areas in Pangasinan,
Philippines: Hundred Islands National Park and Manleluag Spring Protected Landscape. 
 The knowledge, attitude, and community participation in the two communities vary,
considering that they possess a unique ecosystem dimension (coastal ecosystem and
forest ecosystem). 
 Moreover, their knowledge of threats and importance on biodiversity, including their
attitudes, is considered high.
 Despite their ecosystem uniqueness, there were no observed differences in both areas
in terms of their knowledge and attitude. However, in terms of community participation,
coastal communities show a higher level of community participation as compared to a
forested community. 
 The demographic factors, such as income and the number of programs and projects
implemented in their areas, probably determine the status of their community
participation.

SUMMARY:
Biodiversity is the variety of life—its ecosystems, species, populations, and genes. Human
actions towards the land, freshwater, and oceans have already caused biodiversity to
decline. The research and reports in Biodiversity Studies by Roy (2016:5 15-27) reported

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 that due to the ever-increasing demand on natural resources, the earth is on the verge of
global mass extinction.  Johns and Eyzaquirre (2006) conducted a study on Linking
Biodiversity, Diet, and Health in Police and Practice that the simplification of human diets
associated with increased accessibility of inexpensive agricultural commodities and erosion
of agrobiodiversity leads to nutrient deficiencies and excess energy consumption. Tumbaga,
Hipolito, and Gabriel (2020) on Community participation toward biodiversity conservation
among protected areas in Pangasinan, Philippines. They said that the understanding of
community participation in biodiversity conservation among developing countries, such as
the Philippines, is still lacking and needs to be supplemented. 

5.2.1 DEFINITION AND TYPES

 Biodiversity offsets are an increasingly popular yet controversial tool in conservation. Their
popularity lies in their potential to meet the objectives of biodiversity conservation and of
economic development in tandem; the controversy lies in the need to accept ecological losses
in return for uncertain gains. We are at a critical stage: biodiversity offsets risk becoming
responses to immediate development and conservation needs without an overriding conceptual
framework to provide guidance and evaluation criteria. We clarify the meaning of the term
biodiversity offset and propose a framework that integrates the consideration of theoretical and
practical challenges in the offset process. We also propose a research agenda for specific
topics around metrics, baselines, and uncertainty (Bull, 2013).
        According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, common indicators are needed to
monitor the loss of biodiversity and the implications for the sustainable provision of ecosystem
services. Special emphasis was placed on comparing indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem
services across ecosystems (forests, grass- and shrublands, wetlands, rivers, lakes, soils, and

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agro-ecosystems) and spatial scales (from patch to global scale). The application of biological
indicators was found most often focused on regional and finer spatial scales with few indicators
applied across ecosystem types (Feld et al. 2009).

Biodiversity Types: Genetic, Species and Ecological Diversity

The living world is a complex combination of different levels of organisms. The key components
of life are at one extreme and communities of species at the other extreme. The manifestations
of all types of diversities are found at all these levels of organisms. Biodiversity is the shorter
form of the word biological diversity which means diversity in the biological world. Thus one can
define biodiversity as the degree of variety in nature with regards to biological species.
Definition:
The living world is a complex combination of different levels of organisms. The key components
of life are at one extreme and communities of species at the other extreme. The manifestations
of all types of diversities are found at all these levels of organisms. Biodiversity is the shorter
form of the word biological diversity which means diversity in the biological world. Thus one can
define biodiversity as the degree of variety in nature with regards to biological species.

Types of Biodiversity:
(a) Genetic diversity:
It is the variation of genes within the species. This results in a distinct population of one, even
the same species. It gives genetic variation within a population or varieties within one species.
There are two reasons for differences between individual organisms. One is a variation in the
gene which all organisms possess which is passed from one to its offspring.
The other is the influence of the environment on each individual organism. The variation in the
sequence of four base pairs in the DNA chain forms the genetic variation in the organism. The
recombination) of genetic material during cell division makes it imperative for genetic diversity
within a species. Loss of genetic diversity within a species is called genetic erosion.
The whole area of agricultural productivity and development depend on genetic diversity. The
plant, as well as animal genetic resources, play an important role in the economy of a country.
Genetic diversity is the whole basis for a sustainable life system on earth.
Scientists in many parts of the world are trying to introduce genetically modified seeds in the
agriculture sector for better yield as well as for the resistance of drought and flood situations.
The local people or farmers are not showing any interest to preserve the natural way of genetic
diversity.

(b) Species diversity:

This refers to the variety of species within a particular region. The number of species in a region
is a measure of such diversity. The richness of species in a given region provides a yardstick for
species diversity. Species diversity depends as much on the genetic diversity as on the
environmental condition.
Colder regions support less than the warmer regions for species diversity. A good climate with
good physical geography supports a better species diversity. Species richness is a term that is
used to measure the biodiversity of a given site.

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In addition to species richness, species endemism is a term used to measure biodiversity by
way of assessing the magnitude of differences between species. In the taxonomic system,
similar species are grouped together in general, similar genera in families, families in orders,
and so on till in the level of the kingdom. This process is a genuine attempt to find relationships
between organisms. The higher taxa have thousands of species. Species that are very different
from one another contributes more to overall biodiversity.

(c) Ecological diversity:

This is the number of species in a community of organisms. Maintaining both types of diversity
is fundamental to the functioning of ecosystems and hence to human welfare. Thus, ecological
diversity is decided on the basis of the species and genetic diversity. Ecological diversity is the
scale of biodiversity of an ecosystem. It describes the level of biodiversity in an ecosystem. 
Ecosystem diversity deals with the variations in ecosystems within a geographical location and
its overall impact on human existence and the environment. Ecological diversity is a type of
biodiversity. It is the variation in the ecosystems found in a region or the variation in ecosystems
over the whole planet. Biodiversity is important because it clears out our water, changes our
climate, and provides us with food. Ecological diversity includes the variation in both terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems. Ecological diversity can also take into account the variation in the
complexity of a biological community, including the number of different niches, the number of
trophic levels, and other ecological processes. An example of ecological diversity on a global
scale would be the variation in ecosystems, such as deserts, forests, grasslands, wetlands, and
oceans. Ecological diversity is the largest scale of biodiversity, and within each ecosystem,
there is a great deal of both species and genetic diversity (All cited by your article library, n.d.)
 
Summary
Biodiversity offsets are an increasingly popular yet controversial tool in conservation.  According
to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, common indicators are needed to monitor the loss of
biodiversity and the implications for the sustainable provision of ecosystem services (Feld et al.
2009).
Biodiversity Types: Genetic, Species and Ecological Diversity
The living world is a complex combination of different levels of organisms. The key components
of life are at one extreme and communities of species at the other extreme. (a) Genetic
diversity: It is the variation of genes within the species. This results in a distinct population of
one, even the same species; (b) Species diversity: This refers to the variety of species within a
particular region. The number of species in a region is a measure of such diversity;  c)
Ecological diversity: This is the number of species in a community of organisms. Maintaining
both types of diversity is fundamental to the functioning of ecosystems and hence to human
welfare.

5.2.2 BENEFITS
Importance of Biodiversity:

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 1. Biological diversity represents a valuable genetic resource for mankind. Genetic material
is the end product of millions of years of evolution and hence the preservation of
biodiversity is very essential
2. Genetic diversity is of immense value for the research and developmental activities
3. Plants and animals are recognized in the society as national pride, cultural heritage and
certain religious beliefs are associated with it.
4. Great aesthetic value
5. Recreational Activities
6. Religious Beliefs. As some communities regard certain mountains, trees, water bodies
as sacrosanct

Summary
Biological diversity represents a valuable genetic resource while genetic diversity speaks on the
immense value for the research and developmental activities. Biodiversity benefits are noted in
one of the benefits as maximizing the effective use of natural resources.

5.2.3 PROTOCOLS ON BIODIVERSITY

Based on the protocols on biodiversity which an environment needs to be protected so as to
have a better life and a safer place to live. With the advent of technology, various activities are
being done by people such as experimenting with animals, the production of food at the
expense of destroying the environment
        All of these must be addressed, thus, various protocols have been made and implemented
to ensure the safety of man and of the world. 
       Today, we will be attaining our Intended Learning Outcome which is to synthesize the
protocols in biodiversity.

12
13
Summary
It is noted that the simplified illustration of the CBD-Structure focuses on the conference of the
parties as mentioned earlier in our discussions.  Based on the report card that the
environmental performance of the NSW Government has focused on the pollution and waste up
to rivers and wetlands assessments

5.3 GMO AND GENE THERAPY

REFER TO PPT: GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM

Summary
Cloning is a gene therapy that aims to treat a disease by supplying functional allele. There is
one possible procedure on that gene therapy- cloning.

5.3.1 GMO
A GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a plant, animal, microorganism or other organism
whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or
transgenic technology. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and virus genes
that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.
Genetic modification affects many of the products we consume on a daily basis. As the number
of GMOs available for commercial use grows every year, the Non-GMO Project works diligently
to provide the most accurate, up-to-date standards for non-GMO verification.
In order for a product to be Non-GMO Project Verified, its inputs must be evaluated for
compliance with our standard, which categorizes inputs into three risk levels:

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Risk
Definition Examples
Level
The input is derived from,
contains derivatives of, or is
produced through a process Alfalfa, Canola, Corn, Cotton, Papaya, Soy, Sugar
High-Risk involving organisms that are beet, Yellow summer squash / zucchini, Animal
known to be genetically products, Microbes and enzymes, Potato
modified and commercially
available.
The input is not derived from,
does not contain derivatives of,
or is not produced through a
Lentils, Spinach, Tomatoes, Sesame seeds,
Low-Risk process involving organisms
Avocados
that are presently known to be
genetically modified and
commercially available.
The input is not derived from
biological organisms and not,
Non-Risk
therefore, susceptible to
genetic modification.
The Non-GMO Project
carefully monitors the
development of new
genetically engineered
products; we are currently
Flax, Mustard, Rice, Wheat, Apple, Mushroom,
Monitored tracking close to 100 products.
Orange, Pineapple, Camelina (false flax), Salmon,
Risk Of those, we have included the
Sugarcane, Tomato
following in our surveillance
program, either because they
will likely soon be widespread
or because of known instances
of contamination from GMOs.

Though there are only several GM crops that are widely available, they are commodity crops
that often get further processed into a variety of ingredients. These high-risk ingredients are
typically present in packaged products as:
Amino acids, alcohol, aspartame, ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, citric acid, sodium citrate,
ethanol, flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), high-fructose corn syrup, hydrolyzed vegetable
protein, lactic acid, maltodextrins, molasses, monosodium glutamate (MSG), sucrose, textured
vegetable protein (TVP), xanthan gum, vitamins, vinegar, yeast products

15
 

Summary
GMOs are living beings that have had their genetic code adjusted in some way. For example,
the golden rice which is modified with daffodil genes to have more beta-carotene, which the
body converts to vitamin A and other significant GMO products.

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5.3.2 GENE THERAPY

Summary
The gene inhibition therapy is a cell containing a faulty gene which produces cell functioning
normally after blocking gene. 

5.3.3 ETHCAL ISSUES IN GENETIC ENGINGEERING

HISTORY
 The direct transfer of DNA from one organism to another was first accomplished by
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973.
 The first genetically engineered plant was tobacco, reported in 1983 by Michael Bevan,
Richard B. Flavell and Mary-Dell Chilton. Through tissue culture techniques a single
tobacco cell was selected that contained the gene and a new plant grown from it.
 In 1976, Genentech, the first genetic engineering company was founded by Herbert
Boyer and Robert Swanson.
 The first field trials of genetically engineered plants occurred in France and the USA in
1986, tobacco plants were engineered to be resistant to herbicides.
GENETIC ENGINEERING
 Human design into the formation of new genetic combination in order to produce desired
results
 Includes:
- Genetic testing
- Prenatal diagnosis
- Genetic screening
- In vitro fertilization
- Embryo transfer
- Cloning
- Sperm and zygote banking
- Sex selection
- Surrogacy
- Organic transplant

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 What are the ethical issues surrounding gene therapy?
Because gene therapy involves making changes to the body’s set of basic instructions, it raises
many unique ethical concerns. The ethical questions surrounding gene therapy include:
 How can “good” and “bad” uses of gene therapy be distinguished?
 Who decides which traits are normal and which constitute a disability or disorder?
 Will the high costs of gene therapy make it available only to the wealthy?
 Could the widespread use of gene therapy make society less accepting of people who
are different?
 Should people be allowed to use gene therapy to enhance basic human traits such as
height, intelligence, or athletic ability?

Current gene therapy research has focused on treating individuals by targeting the therapy to
body cells such as bone marrow or blood cells. This type of gene therapy cannot be passed to a
person’s children. Gene therapy could be targeted to egg and sperm cells (germ cells),
however, which would allow the inserted gene to be passed to future generations. This
approach is known as germline gene therapy.
The idea of germline gene therapy is controversial. While it could spare future generations in a
family from having a particular genetic disorder, it might affect the development of a fetus in
unexpected ways or have long-term side effects that are not yet known. Because people who
would be affected by germline gene therapy are not yet born, they can’t choose whether to have
the treatment. Because of these ethical concerns, the U.S. Government does not allow federal
funds to be used for research on germline gene therapy in people.

Summary
The direct transfer of DNA from one organism to another was done by Boyer and Cohen in
1973. While genetic engineering on human design is the formation of a new genetic
combination like genetic testing, prenatal diagnosis, etc.

5.3.4 BIOETHICAL DILEMMAS USING GMOs

GMO AND ETHICAL ISSUES
 Genetic modification of organisms can have unpredictable results when such organisms
are introduces into the ecosystem. Therefore, the Indian Government has set up
organizations such as GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee), which will
make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM-
organisms for public services.
 The modification/usage of living organisms for public services (as food and medicine
sources, for example) has also created problems with patents granted for the same.
 There is growing public anger that certain companies are being granted patents for
products and technologies that make use of the genetic materials, plants and other
biological resources that have long been identified, developed and used by farmers and
indigenous people of a specific region/country.
ETHICAL ISSUES

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  Like every technology bio-nanotechnology is having some negative impact on word
which need to be resolved first before taking the benefit from it, and these are
 Uncontrolled genetic results or mutation
 New business controversies
 The genetically modified organisms remain stable in artificial condition inspite of natural
environment
 Sex ratio may vary because of selection of sex
 Nature is more perfect designer
 Cloning reduces genetic diversity
 Cloning will be psychologically harmful to the child
 Cloning will be physically harmful to the child
Summary
The GEAC makes decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing
GM-organisms for public services. On ethical issues like every technology bio-nanotechnology
which is having some negative impact on the word that need to be resolved first before taking its
benefits.

Module 5 Summary
In this module, we had discussed the following:
1. define the information age;
2. trace the development of the information age from the introduction of Guttenberg's press
up to the present;
3. determine the impacts of the information age on society;
4. identify the different social media platforms used today;
5. analyze the ways in which the information age and social media influence human lives;
6. define biodiversity, environment, and ecosystem;
7. identify the importance of biodiversity as a source of many biological resources;
8. discuss the adverse effects of resource depletion on society and the measures to
mitigate them;
9. differentiate GMOs from gene therapy;
10. identify the uses and benefits/effects of GMO and gene therapy on society; and
11. discuss the moral and bioethical questions concerning genetic engineering.

In summary, we had discussed in this module the three topics which are the information age
biodiversity and healthy society and genetically modified organisms and gene therapy.
We mentioned that nowadays, the information could be shared quickly. People are becoming
more interested in sharing information about themselves. Various aspects of our society are
also influenced by the information age especially communication, economists, industry, health,
and the environment. The rapid upgrade of information poses both positive and negative
impacts on our society. Therefore, we need to carefully check our motives before believing them
and using and sharing the. We should share information that could help improve our lives and
others. Moreover, we discussed biodiversity. Biodiversity is seen at the macro-level seems to be
still vast and rich, yet if we look at it at the micro-level, per species, we have lost too much.

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Eventually, in the near future, this biodiversity loss will have a negative effect, especially to us
humans. "The value of biodiversity is the value of everything."
Finally, we had discussed the difference between GMO and gene therapy. Genetic engineering
is an emerging field of science. Its quests are to preserve and prolong life. In more than four
decades since the first genetically modified bacteria were produced, thousands of genetically
modified organisms have been created and propagated. Some are approved by experts and
government authorities for human use and consumption while others are kept in institutional
research laboratories subject to more experiments. There are advantages and disadvantages in
using genetic engineering in both fields of medicine and food and agriculture, there are
controversies that are still debatable up to the present. The major concern of the opponents is
still a long-term effect of GMOs on humans while the proponents' flagship is the success stories
of the GMO recipients. There is still a long way to go for GMOs to prove itself, as humans seek
answers to life's predicaments or as human play like God.

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