Science, Technology, and Society

Lesson 2: Biodiversity and the Healthy Society.

Learning Outcome:
a. Explain the interrelatedness of environment and a healthy society.
b. Identify the everyday tasks and evaluate whether they contribute to the wellness

Decrease in biodiversity is eminent worldwide. Vertebrates fell to 60% from the 1970s due to
human causes. It is projected that by 2020, the wilder decline will be 67% of the present number. The
World Wide Fund for Nature and Zoological Society of London reported an annual decrease in wildlife
by 2%. A major cause is a human population which has doubled in number since 1960 to 7.4 billion.
Humans have industrialized the natural habitat of wildlife as well as marine life. Leaving these creatures
with no place to live would eventually cause their deaths. Marco Lambertini the General Director of
WWF International, described that the disappearance of wildlife is at an unprecedented rate. Earth
might enter the sixth mass extinction event according to experts. Mass extinction is described as the
disappearance of species at a rate of 1,000 faster than usual. Moreover, the disappearance of species
in a certain environment causes an imbalance in the ecosystem, producing more chaotic changes that
harm the entire 600system (Inquirer net, 2016).
This is but a pressing statement for people to know more about the importance of our diverse
environment, and how human activities can either contribute to its growth or destruction. There is a
growing importance of studying how society, environment, and health are interrelated to each other,
that if human beings fail to recognize the needs of one of those components, the other remaining
components can be affected and compromised. Thus, it is timely to know about the pressing effects of
species being extinct and that of our ecosystem being imbalanced.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem

Biodiversity is defined as the vast variety of life forms on the entire Earth. It encompasses all kinds
of life forms, from the single-celled organisms to the largest. multi-celled organisms. Its definition is in
the structural and functional perspective and not as individual species.
Biodiversity is ―the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine
and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes
diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.

Biodiversity is the source of the essential goods and ecological services that constitute the source of life
for all and it has direct consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine, and in industry.‖ (Villaggio
Globale, 2009)

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Understanding biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a thorough study on the
relationship of the biotic, the living organisms, and the abiotic, nonliving organisms. An interdisciplinary
approach is needed to study the ecosystem. Biodiversity plays a major role in this natural dynamics.
For example, a large number of golden snails in a certain area Of a rice field can help predict a 10W
production of the rice harvest, since eggs 0f the golden snails are considered a pest for rice plants. On
a positive view, the larger number of different species in a certain area can be a predictor of sustainable
life in that area. The sustainability of the ecosystem ensures a better survival rate against any natural
disaster. Therefore, we, as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must preserve and conserve the
biodiversity of all creatures.

People will always depend on biodiversity on the wholeness of our being and in our everyday lives.
Our health will ultimately depend upon the products and services that we acquire from the ecosystem.
Somehow, there are ways and pros in the ecosystem that are not apparent nor appreciated by human
beings. Think about the need to drink clean and fresh water, the need to eat healthy vegetables and
food, or the need for man to transport Which makes him rely on fuel. All of these are human needs that
are answered and provided by our ecosystem. Thus, if we fail to keep the processor taking care of the
ecosystem, it is we who are actually putting our lives at risk. Significant decline in biodiversity has direct
human impact When ecosystem in its insufficiency can no longer provide the physical as well as social
needs of human beings. Indirectly, changes in the ecosystem meet livelihood, income, and on
occasion, may even cause political conflict (WHO, n.d.).

Changes in Biodiversity
Alteration in any system could bring varied effects. A change in biodiversity could have erratic
effects not only on wildlife or marine life but also on human beings. For example, humans inhabiting the
forest would disturb the natural order of life. Trees and plants would be affected in the land clearing
operations where the houses would be built. The animals, insects, and all types of life forms in the
cleared area would either be displaced or most likely be killed. The loss of these life forms could affect
the entire ecosystem governing that environment. The food chain might be damaged. From this, we can
clearly infer that when our ecosystem is not well taken care of, biodiversity encounters changes that
may impact human health on such different levels.

Threats to Biodiversity
There are major threats to biodiversity that were identified by the United Nations Environment
Programme (WHO, n.d.). These are the following:
1. Habitat loss and destruction. A major contributing factor is the inhabitation of human beings and
the use of land for economic gains.
2. Alterations in ecosystem composition. Alterations and sudden changes, either within species
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have caused allergic reactions to some diabetics using it. In 197 8, researchers from the City of Hope
National Medical Center and Genentech Biotechnology Company were able to produce human insulin.
The gene for insulin was inserted into bacterial DNA that was able to produce almost exactly the same
human insulin. This was a breakthrough in the mass production of human insulin. In 1996, modified
human insulin was approved, called the Humalog.

Benefits of GMOs
Studies show some of the potential benefits of GMOs:
1. Higher efficiency in farming with the use of pesticide-resistant/herbicide-tolerant GMO crops,
there will be less use for herbicides/pesticides and lower cost for labor and cultivation.
2. Increase in harvest GMO - crops resistant to pests and diseases means an increase in potential
growth and harvest.
3. Control in fertility - controlling the purity of the hybrid seeds (GMO seeds) ensures higher yields.
4. Increase in food processing - altered characteristics of GMO crops help ease food processing. ‗
5. Improvement of desirable characteristics - GMOs offer longer shelf life, enhanced color, and
taste, enhanced production or. reduction of enzymes; and other modified characteristics of plants,
animals, and microorganisms.
6. Nutritional and pharmaceutical enhancement -GMO corn like maize fortified with lysine and
Golden Rice fortified with Vitamin A and iron. There are now edible vaccines for viral and diarrheal
diseases.
7. Reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides
There are over 400 million acres of GMO farmlands all over the world. The top five countries that
operate GMO farmlands are the United States, Brazil, Argentina, India, and Canada.

Some of the GMO agricultural crops that have been approved for public consumption and are already
in the market include alfalfa, corn, papaya, soya bean, sugar beets, and squash. Most of these GMO
crops were made to be resistant to pests. Some examples of common food with GMOs are Kellogg‘s
Corn Flakes, Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Ultra Slim-Fast, Quaker Yellow Com Meal, and Alpo Dry
Pet Food.
In the animal industries, there are ongoing researches like studies on Pacific salmon that grow twice
faster than the native salmon and chicken resistance to H5N1 bird flu viruses. However, these GMO
animals are all in a research laboratory and not yet approved for public consumption.

Potential Risks of GMOs

Despite the promising claims of GMOs, the opponents of GMOs claim otherwise. For example, there
are studies that show a link in the adaption of pesticide-resistant GMO crops to the significant growth of
superweeds that became pesticide-resistant, too. This caused the additional problem to more than 12
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million acres of farms in the United States.

Opponents of GMOs have the following major concerns:
1. Since genetic engineering is still a young branch of science, there are inadequate studies on the
effects of GMOs on humans and the environment.
2. Genetic engineering promotes mutation in organisms which the long-term effect is still unknown.
3. Human consumption of GMOs might have the following effects: More allergic reactions to GMO food.
may trigger more allergic reactions, more so create new ones, as a side effect of the gene alteration.

Gene mutation - GMO food may develop abnormalities and mutation, more than the desired product
of the gene alteration.
Antibiotic resistance - GMO food contains antibiotic-resistant genes; this may cause disease-causing
bacteria likely to be more antibiotic-resistant too, increasing the possibility of widespread the disease.
Nutritional value - GMO food may have a change in its nutritional value.
Potential Environmental Risks Caused By GMOs

Karki (2006) summarized the perceived potential environmental risks caused by GMOs. The identified
major risks are the following:
1. Risk in gene flow - there is a potential risk of the modified gene being transferred from the GMO
crop to its wild relative or organism in the soil and human intestine (when ingested). For example, a
decaying GMO plant could possibly transfer the modified 'genes to the bacteria and fungi in the soil.
Bacteria and fungi are capable of using genetic material from their surroundings. There are no studies
yet on the effects of the absorbed modified gene on other organisms.
2. Emergence of new forms of resistance and secondary pests and weed problems - GMO crops
resistant to certain pesticides may trigger a new form of pest resistance while GMO herbicide-tolerant
crops may lead to the overuse of the herbicides which may trigger a new form of weed resistance. '
3. Recombination of Virus and Bacteria to Produce New Pathogens - the modified gene can be
transferred_ and integrated with the viral or bacterial genes which may lead to viral or bacterial gene
modification 01' mutation. This 1M modified virus and bacteria may then cause new diseases that may
affect other organisms including human beings.

Other direct and indirect environmental risks caused by GMOs (Molfmo & Zucco, 2008):
1. Direct environmental risks are:

 introduction of the GMOs in the natural environment may cause disruption of the natural
communities through competition or interference;

 the possibility of unexpected behavior of the GMOs in the environment if it escapes its intended

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use and may post threats or become pest;

 may cause harmful effects to ecosystem processes if GMOs interfere with the natural biochemical
cycles; and

 the persistence of GMO genes after their harvest may cause negative impacts to the consumer of
GMO products.

2. Indirect environmental risks are:

 alteration of agricultural practices like managing negative impacts of GMOs to the environment
such as the evolution of insects, pests, and weeds that became resistant to GMO crops;
 may have impacts on biodiversity caused by the alteration in agricultural practices, and may have
varied environmental impacts due to GM05 interaction and release in the natural environment.

Potential Human Health Risks caused by GMOs

A major concern in the use and consumption of GMOs is their effect on human beings, primarily health.
Some potential human health risks are identified (Akhter, 2001), such as:

 consumption of GMOs may have adverse effects since it is not naturally or organically produced;
 consumption of GMOs may alter the balance of existing microorganisms in the human digestive
system;

 production of toxins may be detrimental to human health; and

 production of allergens may have adverse effects on humans.

Worldwide, there are many groups that campaign against GMO food consumption. They encourage
people to boycott GMO products and to be vigilant in checking if the food they buy has GMO
ingredients. 1n the Philippines, the Supreme Court has ruled against the use of Bt eggplant, another
genetically modified crop (Ongkiko, 2016).

Other potential risks that raise major concerns are:

 Human Genome Project (HGP) Mapping of human genes to provide the framework for research
and studies in the field of medicine. It was feared that the ability to produce human genetic
information would create biases and give much power to people holding the information and to the
disadvantage of those who do not have the genetic information.
 Mutation of genetically engineered microorganisms Genetically modified bacteria and viruses may
mutate to become more resistant or virulent that may cause more dreadful diseases for human

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beings.
 Cloning The asexual reproduction of an organism using parent cells through genetic engineering.
On February 24, 1997, the fust mammal, Dolly, a sheep from Scotland, was born through cloning.
With its celebrated success came the fear of human cloning. It emerged the ethical issue of man
―playing God.‖

Scientists and medical practitioners would definitely continue to search for ways to preserve
lives. Genetic engineering is perceived to be one of the keys to this venture. Gene therapy and gene
alteration are Promising ways to improve human health conditions.

On the other hand, great feats loom in the process of this quest There are many things to be
considered before a certain medical Process using genetic engineering be accepted. These concerns
were affirmed by the reports, of the World Health Organization. WHO reported three major issues on
GMOs that are in international public debates. These are the potential risks of allergic reactions, gene
transfer/flow, and outcrossing (WHO, 2014)
The primary issue on GMOs presented in public debate is its unnatural production or what is termed to
be a violation of nature. The creation of new organisms, like GMOs, posts moral issues in defiance of
natural laws. Another concern is the potential risks to the environment and human health, to which so
much is unknown yet.

Biosafety on GMOs
There are initiatives for the. protection of the general human population regarding the issues and
concerns about GMOs. international organizations developed principles and treaties that somehow
ensure biosafety on GMOs. Some of_ these initiatives are as follows:
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
together with the World Health Organization (WHO) created The Codex Alimentarius Commission
(Codex). Codex is an intergovernmental body that develops the Codex Alimentarius, know as the
International Food Code.
Codex is responsible for the development of standards, codes of practices, guidelines, and
recommendations on food safety. With the pressing issues and concerns on GMOs, in 2003, Codex
has developed principles. for the human health risk analysis of genetically modified (GM) food products.
The principles include pre-market assessments of GM food products and their evaluation of direct and
indirect effects. However, the Codex principles have no binding effect on national legislation but
through the sanitary and phytosanitary measures of the World Trade Organization, national legislators
are encouraged to complement their national standards with the Codex Principles (WHO, 2014).

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Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Established in 2003, Cartagena Protocol is an international
environmental treaty that regulates the transboundary movements of Living Modified Organisms
(LMOs). The Cartagena Protocol requires exporters to seek consent from the importers before its first
shipment of LMOs (WHO, 2014).

International Trade Agreement on labeling of GM food and food products. The agreement requires
exporters of GM food and food products to label their products and give rights to importing parties to
reject or accept the GM products. The premise of this policy is that consumers have the right to know
and the freedom to choose GM or non-GM products (Whitman, 2000).

The World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) claims that all GM products that are available in the
international market have passed safety assessments by national authorities. The safety assessments
basically look at the environmental and health risk factors arid food safety usually follows the Codex
Food Code.

GMOs in Philippine Context

The introduction of GMOs in our country created issues and controversies similar to other countries
with GMOs. There are, of course, proponents and opponents of these issues.
The GMO concern started in 1908 with the creation of the National Committee on Biosafety of the
Philippines (NCBP) through Executive Order No. 430 of 1990. The NCBP developed the guidelines on
the planned release of genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs) and Potentially harmful exotic
species in 1998. In 2002, the Department of Agriculture released Administrative Order No. 8, the
guideline for the importation and release into the environment of GM plants and plant Products. In that
same year, the entry of GMO importation started (Baumuller, 2003). The Philippines was marked to be
the first country in Asia to approved commercial cultivation of GMOs when GM corn planting was
approved in 2002 (Serapio & Dela Cruz, 2016).

From December 2002 to the present, there are 70 GMO applications approved by the Department
of Agriculture for the release to the environment, 62 GMOs of which are approved for food feed and
processing, and the remaining 8 were approved for propagation (Aruelo, 2016).

In 2004, the Philippines was classified by International Service for the acquisition of agri-biotech
applications as one of the fourteen biotech~ mega countries which grow 50,000 hectares or more of
GMO cramannually (James, 2004). In that same year, Senator Juan Flavier authored a bill on the

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mandatory labeling of food and food products with GMOs. The Senate did not pass the bill. '

In 2006, the Philippines became part of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. In the same year,
Executive Order No. 514 was issued to address the biosafety requirements of the Cartagena Protocol
and the establishment of the National Biosafety Framework (NBF).

In 2010, the Organic Agriculture Act was issued, encouraging organic agriculture than GMO-related
agriculture. Prior to this act, there are several provinces like Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental
which agreed to support organic agriculture. There was the establishment of the Negros Organic Island
through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the two provinces in 2005. With this MOA, the
two provinces were able to ‗ban the entry of GMOs and living GMOs to their provinces through a
provincial ordinance. Similar to this case, Davao City passed the Organic Agriculture Ordinance in
2010. This city ordinance helps the prevention of field testing of GM Bt eggplant in the UP Mindanao
Campus (Aruelo, 2016).

In 2012, Representative Teddy Casino, together with other congressmen, filed a bill pushing for the
mandatory labeling of. GM food and food products. To date, there is no Philippine biosafety law, only
biosafety regulations formed under NBF.

A study on the biosafety regulations of the Philippines concluded that the existing regulation is weak,
which can be fixed through legislation such as a republic act (Richmond, 2006).

In December 2015, the Supreme Court ordered to put an end to the field testing of GMO Bt eggplant
and declared Administrative Order No. 8, series of 2002 of the Department of Agriculture as null and
void. This means that any actions or procedures related to GMO importations and propagation are
temporarily put to stop until a new administrative order iS is issued in accordance with the law.

On March 7, 2016, five government agencies namely, the Department of Science and Technology,
Department of Agriculture, Department Of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health,
and Department of the Interior and Local Government, passed a Joint Department Circular No. 1,
series of 2016 on rules and regulations for the research and development, handling and use,
transboundary movement, release in the environment, and management of the genetically modified
plant and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology. This joint department circular
paves the way for issuance of new permits for planting and importing GM crops in the country.

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Work Sheets

Name: Date :

Course & Section:

No Answer (no pt.) Needs Improvement Adequate (6 pt.) Quality (8 pt.) Exemplary(10 pt)
(4 pts)
Did not answer the Answers are partial Answers are not Answers are Answers are
question. or incomplete. Key comprehensive or accurate and comprehensive,
points are not clear. completely stated. complete. Key accurate, and
Question not Key points are points are stated complete. Key ideas
adequately addressed, but not and supported. are clearly stated,
answered. well supported. explained, and well
supported.
Activity 3.3: Essay (10 points)
1.Analyze and explain what genetically modified organisms are.

Independent Learning 3.3 (10 points)

Direction: On the provided diagram write down at least5 the implications and impacts of Genetically
Modified Organisms.
Implications of Genetically Modified Impacts of Genetically Modified Organisms
Organisms

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