STS Module Lesson 5 PDF

LESSON 5 SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNNOLOGY Learning Outcome: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to 1. Link learned concepts to the development of the information age and its impact to the society 2. Research on the role of Gu...

LESSON 5 SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNNOLOGY Learning Outcome: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to 1. Link learned concepts to the development of the information age and its impact to the society 2. Research on the role of Gutenberg on social media today 3. Write an essay on how social media and the information age have impacted our lives 4. Determine the importance of biodiversity to human health 5. Identify threats to biodiversity that can affect the human life 6. Discuss the ethics and implications of GMOs Development of Information Age The Information Age began around the 1970s and is still going on today. It is also known as the Computer Age, Digital Age, or New Media Age. This era brought about a time in which people could access information and knowledge easily. Influences of the past on the Information Age The Renaissance influenced the Information Age by creating the idea inventions, while too advanced for the time, the basic idea was used to develop modern inventions. The Renaissance also changed literature. At first, only books that told stories of religion and religious heroes were written. During the Renaissance, people began to write realistic books and not just religious stories. People's mindset about themselves changed. It was no longer about what humans could do for God, but what humans could do for themselves. This way of thinking is called humanism. The Scientific Revolution changed the modern era by introducing important scientists such as Galileo, Copernicus, and Sir Isaac Newton. Their discoveries paved the way for modern tools, inventions, and innovations. The Industrial Revolution brought about major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology. This era had a profound effect on the social, economic, and cultural conditions of the world. Inventions and Innovations of the Information Age There were many different inventions that came about because of the Information Age, one of which was the computer. The Internet allowed people to access information with the touch of a button. The Internet has turned society into homebodies, individuals who do everything from the comfort of their homes instead of venturing outdoors to complete tasks. People can do everything online; shopping, communicating, bill paying, working, education, entertainment, even ordering food. This may be good, but it has also made us a very lazy and uneducated society. Tim Berners-Lee, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are several important people of the Information Age. Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web. Jobs who was created the first effective personal computer called the Apple 1 The Apple 1 was a huge advancement in computer sciences, and it carved the path for the computers we have now. Apple has created iPhone, iPod, iPad, iMac, and Apple TV. Gates is also a huge force in the Information Age. He founded Microsoft, which creates almost everything that has to do with computers. Microsoft develops programs like Microsoft Office, Windows, and many other influential products. Changes of the Information Age  The Information Age has changed people, technology, science, economies, culture, and even the way people think. The Internet is arguably the most prominent innovation of the Information Age. The Internet changed the way people do everything. It has made people lazier, but it also makes a large amount of the population smarter. The Information Age has made industrial countries stronger. With online companies being some of the most successful and economically stimulating businesses out there, economies receive more from them and keep our world turning. People are becoming more mature and more educated due to things like the computer and the Internet. This period has reshaped governments, with new technology being created every day. Governments can now have more advanced and effective militaries. Because of things like the Internet, new laws had to be put in place to stop hacking, piracy, and identity theft. Impacts of the Information Age The Information Age brought about many new inventions and innovations. Many communication services like texting, email, and social media developed and the world has not been the same since. People learn new languages easier and many books have been translated into different languages, so people around the world can become more educated. However, the Information Age is not all good. There are people in the world that believe they can live their entire life through the Internet. Also, huge criminal organizations rely on hacking into government systems and obtaining confidential information to continue their way of life. Jobs have also become easier, and some jobs can even be done from the comfort of your own home. The Information Age is also known as the Age of Entrepreneurship. Now entrepreneurs can start and run a company easier than ever before. It also impacts our work ethics by distracting us and causing us to lose interest in the task we are doing. This time period has also created a shortage of jobs and making many jobs obsolete because machines are now being used to do the work humans once did. The Information Age is now. Every era from the Stone Age up to The Industrial Revolution has led to the world as we know it. Without the information, knowledge, and discoveries of those from the past, we would not be where we are today. The past has shaped our present and will continue to shape our future. ACTIVITY 1 GUTENBERG TO SOCIAL MEDIA Direction: Research on the role of Gutenberg invention to the social media of today. Cite your references. The Impact of Social Media and Information Age on People’s Lives Manuel Castells, September 8, 2014 The Internet is the decisive technology of the Information Age, and with the explosion of wireless communication in the early twenty-first century, we can say that humankind is now almost entirely connected, albeit with great levels of inequality in bandwidth, efficiency, and price. People, companies, and institutions feel the depth of this technological change, but the speed and scope of the transformation has triggered all manner of utopian and dystopian perceptions that, when examined closely through methodologically rigorous empirical research, turn out not to be accurate. For instance, media often report that intense use of the Internet increases the risk of isolation, alienation, and withdrawal from society, but available evidence shows that the Internet neither isolates people nor reduces their sociability; it actually increases sociability, civic engagement, and the intensity of family and friendship relationships, in all cultures. Our current “network society” is a product of the digital revolution and some major sociocultural changes. One of these is the rise of the “Me-centered society,” marked by an increased focus on individual growth and a decline in community understood in terms of space, work, family, and ascription in general. But individuation does not mean isolation, or the end of community. Instead, social relationships are being reconstructed based on individual interests, values, and projects. Community is formed through individuals’ quests for like-minded people in a process that combines online interaction with offline interaction, cyberspace, and the local space. Globally, time spent on social networking sites surpassed time spent on e-mail in November 2007, and the number of social networking users surpassed the number of e-mail users in July 2009. Today, social networking sites are the preferred platforms for all kinds of activities, both business and personal, and sociability has dramatically increased — but it is a different kind of sociability. Most Facebook users visit the site daily, and they connect on multiple dimensions, but only on the dimensions they choose. The virtual life is becoming more social than the physical life, but it is less a virtual reality than a real virtuality, facilitating real-life work and urban living.  Because people are increasingly at ease in the Web’s multidimensionality, marketers, government, and civil society are migrating massively to the networks people construct by themselves and for themselves. At root, social-networking entrepreneurs are really selling spaces in which people can freely and autonomously construct their lives. Sites that attempt to impede free communication are soon abandoned by many users in favor of friendlier and less restricted spaces. Perhaps the most telling expression of this new freedom is the Internet’s transformation of sociopolitical practices. Messages no longer flow solely from the few to the many, with little interactivity. Now, messages also flow from the many to the many, multimodally and interactively. By disintermediating government and corporate control of communication, horizontal communication networks have created a new landscape of social and political change. Networked social movements have been particularly active since 2010, notably in the Arab revolutions against dictatorships and the protests the management of the financial crisis. Online and particularly wireless communication has helped social movements pose more of a challenge to state power. The Internet and the Web constitute the technological infrastructure of the global network society, and the understanding of their logic is a key field of research. It is only scholarly research that will enable us to cut through the myths surrounding this digital communication technology that is already a second skin for young people, yet continues to feed the fears and the fantasies of those who are still in charge of a society that they barely understand. The Impact of Social Media in 21st Century The time has changed in 21st century where social media is the most important activity that helps to gain more experience. It is due to the regular increase in internet users all over the world which has further increased the rate from millions to billions in terms of internet usage for operating Social Media. There are various different forms of Social Media network including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Blogs, Micro-Blogs, etc. that allows the users, whether be, people or organizations to stay updated and connected. Each of these networking platforms follows a general base for the customers. For instance, Snapchat is mostly used by the young generation, LinkedIn is mostly used by the business professionals, but all of them help in attracting large number of customers and consumers. Due to these networks, it has become the first information that the user consumes after waking up and before sleeping. It helps in the fulfillment of the micro- moments of our day-to-day lives. It has become popular and widely used among all age groups of people but through a research, it has been found that the widely used platform among the users from different countries is Facebook. Nowadays, it has become easier from the overall development perspective to create any kind of movement and discover various ways for the sustainable, positive and resourceful communication outcomes to be utilized in a better and effective way. Social media, in recent days, has developed activism in the society. A research has been conducted on the active users of the Social Media and found 1.23 billion of the users that actively participate in the large amount of Social Media usage including all platforms. It has encouraged standard communication methods that also help in the rapid development of the technology. With all these Social Media activities by the user, it has created huge impact on the daily lives of the people. Over the past few years, Twitter and Facebook has changed the global conversation but the communication tools of Social Media have changed the way and meaning of living. There are certain segments of the society related to daily routine, where Social Media creates affect in the regular lives of the people. 1. News Source– The source of news consumption by people has been changed in present scenario. Most of the people prefer to follow regular updates and stories added by their friends on Social Media rather than going for hardcore newspaper readings or online newspapers at different sites like Google news or CNN. The trend of newspaper editors and publication has been transformed to follow-up of people and groups at Social Media like Facebook, Twitter and other networks.  The new trend has become the most trusted source of information even than the search engines. But there are many people who still make use of RSS feeds to stay up to date. 2. Business start-up and pattern– With the increase in use of Social Media, starting and launching a business plan has become very easy. Social Media allows people to build little money through advertising and provide them a chance to make more engagement with the people along with their business promotion. A survey has been conducted which states that Twitter has become basic mean of marketing for most of the people of country. While in the previous era, business was only conducted in the immediate environment of an individual and Social Media that mainly includes blogging, YouTube posting and tweeting with various other aspects. It has created new possibilities for both the clients and the customers, as the business source and pattern has moved to the online platform and increases the value of Social Media worldwide. 3. Real connection with people– In earlier times, people can only meet at Social venues, but now Social Media like Facebook or Twitter can make them create better connection online. It will allow you to explore your interests in different eras like if you have any interest in ancient poetry, you will definitely found some group at Facebook or at Twitter Search and you can now talk to the people at different geographical locations with the same interest you follow. Social Media can make happen large amount of communication, but people are expanding these interactions to face-to-face live meetings. They make the initial introductions at the Social Media networks and develop further relationships by making use of Phone-calls and interpersonal meetings. Out of various studies, a recent study says that in the last year, the time of the user in the usage of Social Media has been increased three-times more. Facebook is primarily used as connecting with people and staying in touch with them, while Twitter is used by 41.6% of Internet users to stay in touch with their friends. Therefore, most of the part of internet usage at social media is used to find and maintain old and new friendships.  4. Revealing Reality– The old communicational pattern of the people revealed knowledge and confidence among users instead of doubts and fears. Users were in complete control in earlier times. But now, it has shifted completely due to the increased use of Social Media. It has made the ideas, thoughts and feelings of the users more transparent. CEOs and Top Businessman are making use of their blogs to express their real expressions based on the decision made in past about reservations. They have started sharing personal views on social issues, which they were used to afraid of. Thus, Social Media has created greater personal transparency, whether it is, any thought, idea, expression, or activity. 5. A greater Influence – The present time does not allow the mainstream media to drive the influence created by public opinion. The power of Social Media is increasing in the media era than the famous television shows and popular newspapers and other large media outlets that had controlled much of the attention of the millions and billions of people. But the content of these Social Media is coming from the regular people instead of big and corporate media organizations. This viral content has the millions of followers on Twitter, hundreds and thousands of fans on Facebook and millions and billions of views and likes on You Tube. For instance, people like guest writer, small directors or average range models are making use of Social Media so that they can increase their influence over people. Due to the open and fluid communication channels, the influence of the average person is increasing which further increases followers on Twitter, friends on Facebook and subscribers on blogs. Due to strengthening of information sharing networks, the ability of each person has been increased in influencing public opinion and different policies. It results in passive communication by some of the people and active participation by some of them. It has been observed that culture in different era changed according to the time, technology, and demand of the people. But the present era has been continually changing due to large amount of influence created by this powerful platform, that is, Social Media. On this vast planet, Social media has largely engaged people by providing more and more mediums to the active users while large media companies are not even able to communicate properly by phone or through interpersonal communication. Also, it has provided greater and effective choice on the way of living and the influencing the happening around the world. The Impact of Social Media in Our Daily Lives Melissa Tyler (https://linguagreca.com/blog/2013/05/impact-of-social-media-in-our- lives/) If one were to look back over the last decade and try to find some element that affected society from a technical standpoint, there would be a couple of possible contenders. The advancement of smartphone technology in such a short time is certainly impressive, for example. However, the impact of social media, while intertwined with the smartphone is something that made even more of an impression. Consider just how easy it is to see what is happening on the other side of the world, through the accounts of real people rather than filtered news channels. Twitter and Facebook were huge parts of the Arab Spring, and they are important to help people keep in contact and updated during disasters. The Effect on Communication and Connection A decade ago, it was very difficult to find and connect with people that you once knew in high school or college, even with the power of the web. When you moved away, most people lost touch permanently. The social media sites, such as Facebook and Google+, are making it much easier for people to find one another and reconnect, even after decades of being apart. The sites are a great way to see what is happening in the lives of friends and family, and to meet new people who have similar interests and thoughts to yours. The Youth The youth of the world is often the readiest to adapt to and learn to use new technologies, and they are certainly at the forefront of social media of all types. They have more technological know-how than many of older generations as well. Social media, therefore, is certainly having a rather large impact on their daily lives for good and for bad.  Those who spend too much time on social sites, or who take the abuses of online bullies seriously on the sites could have some issues. For parents, even those of teenagers who are 16 and 17, it is important to watch to make sure that social media sites do not take over the lives of children. When used appropriately, it can be a very good thing. Marketing Of course, the social media sites are ripe for marketing endeavors as well, and over the past few years, users have seen an uptick in the amount of advertising on the sites. Many companies are actually choosing to become a part of the site rather than merely buying advertising. This allows for a closer connection between the customers and the companies, which could lead to better service and better-quality products. If companies are not too overt about ads and promotion, most users do not mind it. In most cases, users would have to subscribe to the content in the first place. Entertainment Another reason people are spending as much time as they do on social media sites is because they can be a great form of entertainment. Watch videos that people post to their timelines, view pictures, read stories, and even play games. Whether using a smart phone, a tablet, or a traditional computer, more and more people are utilizing social media in their daily lives. Few things have quite as much impact and affect as social media over the past few years. The sites are certainly a step toward world globalization. It is possible to find several different social media outlets available today, and one should certainly be able to find something that suits their needs and lifestyle. From Twitter to Facebook and Google+, something is available for everyone who wants to connect. Information: The New Language of Science Hans Christian von Baeyer, a physicist has provided an accessible and engaging overview of the emerging role of information as a fundamental building block of science.  Baeyer is well-known for explaining the complexities of science. In his book entitled “Information: The New Language of Science”, he lives up to his reputation by taking on one of the most difficult concepts around – information. He showed how the concept illuminates a huge variety of phenomena to the gamesmanship strategies of Let us Make a Deal. Von Baeyer manages to steer clear of equations without resorting to the hand-waving metaphors that too many science popularizers lapse into when trying to convey difficult ideas. Finally, Baeyer characterized information as a gentle rain that falls on our lives. He leads us through a universe in which information is woven like threads in a cloth. ACTIVITY 2 THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO ME Direction: Write a short essay of how social media impacted your life as a student, a son/daughter to your parents and as a member of the community. (2o pts.) BIODIVERSITY AND THE HEALTH SOCIETY What is biodiversity? 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 forms the foundation of the vast array of ecosystem services that critically contribute to human well-being. Biodiversity is important in human managed as well as natural ecosystems. Decisions humans make that influence biodiversity affect the well-being of themselves and others. Biodiversity is the foundation of ecosystem services to which human well-being is intimately linked. No feature of Earth is more complex, dynamic, and varied than the layer of living organisms that occupy its surfaces and its seas, and no feature is experiencing more dramatic change at the hands of humans than this extraordinary, singularly unique feature of Earth. This layer of living organisms—the biosphere—through the collective metabolic activities of its innumerable plants, animals, and microbes physically and chemically unites the atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere into one environmental system within which millions of species, including humans, have thrived. Breathable air, potable water, fertile soils, productive lands, bountiful seas, the equitable climate of Earth’s recent history, and other ecosystem services are manifestations of the workings of life. It follows that large-scale human influences over this biota have tremendous impacts on human well-being. It also follows that the nature of these impacts, good or bad, is within the power of humans to influence. Defining Biodiversity Biodiversity is defined as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, 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.” The importance of this definition is that it draws attention to the many dimensions of biodiversity. It explicitly recognizes that every biota can be characterized by its taxonomic, ecological, and genetic diversity and that the way these dimensions of diversity vary over space and time is a key feature of biodiversity. Thus only a multidimensional assessment of biodiversity can provide insights into the relationship between changes in biodiversity and changes in ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services. Biodiversity includes all ecosystems—managed or unmanaged. Sometimes biodiversity is presumed to be a relevant feature of only unmanaged ecosystems, such as wildlands, nature preserves, or national parks. This is incorrect. Managed systems— be they planta-tions, farms, croplands, aquaculture sites, rangelands, or even urban parks and urban ecosystems—have their own biodiversity. Given that cultivated systems alone now account for more than 24% of Earth’s terrestrial surface, it is critical that any decision concerning biodiversity or ecosystem services address the maintenance of biodi-versity in these largely anthropogenic systems. Impact of Biodiversity to Human Health What does biodiversity mean for human health? People depend on biodiversity in their daily lives, in ways that are not always apparent or appreciated. Human health ultimately depends upon ecosystem products and services (such as availability of fresh water, food, and fuel sources) which are requisite for good human health and productive livelihoods. Biodiversity loss can have significant direct human health impacts if ecosystem services are no longer adequate to meet social needs. Indirectly, changes in ecosystem services affect livelihoods, income, local migration and, on occasion, may even cause or exacerbate political conflict. Additionally, biological diversity of microorganisms, flora and fauna provides extensive benefits for biological, health, and pharmacological sciences. Significant medical and pharmacological discoveries are made through greater understanding of the earth's biodiversity. Loss in biodiversity may limit discovery of potential treatments for many diseases and health problems. Threats to biodiversity and health There is growing concern about the health consequences of biodiversity loss. Biodiversity changes affect ecosystem functioning and significant disruptions of ecosystems can result in life sustaining ecosystem goods and services. Biodiversity loss also means that we are losing, before discovery, many of nature's chemicals and genes, of the kind that have already provided humankind with enormous health benefits. Nutritional impact of biodiversity Biodiversity plays a crucial role in human nutrition through its influence on world food production, as it ensures the sustainable productivity of soils and provides the genetic resources for all crops, livestock, and marine species harvested for food. Access to a sufficiency of a nutritious variety of food is a fundamental determinant of health. Nutrition and biodiversity are linked at many levels: the ecosystem, with food production as an ecosystem service; the species in the ecosystem and the genetic diversity within species. Nutritional composition between foods and among varieties/cultivars/breeds of the same food can differ dramatically, affecting micronutrient availability in the diet. Healthy local diets, with adequate average levels of nutrients intake, necessitates maintenance of high biodiversity levels. Intensified and enhanced food production through irrigation, use of fertilizer, plant protection (pesticides) or the introduction of crop varieties and cropping patterns affect biodiversity, and thus impact global nutritional status and human health. Habitat simplification, species loss and species succession often enhance communities’ vulnerabilities as a function of environmental receptivity to ill health. Importance of biodiversity for health research and traditional medicine Traditional medicine continues to play an essential role in health care, especially in primary health care. Traditional medicines are estimated to be used by 60% of the world’s population and in some countries are extensively incorporated into the public health system. Medicinal plant use is the most common medication tool in traditional medicine and complementary medicine worldwide. Medicinal plants are supplied through collection from wild populations and cultivation. Many communities rely on natural products collected from ecosystems for medicinal and cultural purposes, in addition to food. Although synthetic medicines are available for many purposes, the global need and demand for natural products persists for use as medicinal products and biomedical research that relies on plants, animals and microbes to understand human physiology and to understand and treat human diseases. Infectious diseases Human activities are disturbing both the structure and functions of ecosystems and altering native biodiversity. Such disturbances reduce the abundance of some organisms, cause population growth in others, modify the interactions among organisms, and alter the interactions between organisms and their physical and chemical environments. Patterns of infectious diseases are sensitive to these disturbances. Major processes affecting infectious disease reservoirs and transmission include, deforestation; land-use change; water management e.g. through dam construction, irrigation, uncontrolled urbanization or urban sprawl; resistance to pesticide chemicals used to control certain disease vectors; climate variability and change; migration and international travel and trade; and the accidental or intentional human introduction of pathogens. Climate change, biodiversity, and health Biodiversity provides numerous ecosystem services that are crucial to human well- being at present and in the future. Climate is an integral part of ecosystem functioning and human health is impacted directly and indirectly by results of climatic conditions upon terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Marine biodiversity is affected by ocean acidification related to levels of carbon in the atmosphere. Terrestrial biodiversity is influenced by climate variability, such as extreme weather events (ie drought, flooding) that directly influence ecosystem health and the productivity and availability of ecosystem goods and services for human use. Longer term changes in climate affect the viability and health of ecosystems, influencing shifts in the distribution of plants, pathogens, animals, and even human settlements. ACTIVITY 3 IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY TO HUMAN HEALTH Direction: Enumerate at least 10 benefits of Biodiversity to Human Health 1. _____________________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________________________ 4. _____________________________________________________________ 5. _____________________________________________________________ 6. _____________________________________________________________ 7. _____________________________________________________________ 8. _____________________________________________________________ 9. _____________________________________________________________ 10. _____________________________________________________________ THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY Direction: Enumerate at least 10 threats to biodiversity caused by humans. 1. ______________________________________________________________ 2. ______________________________________________________________ 3. ______________________________________________________________ 4. ______________________________________________________________ 5. ______________________________________________________________ 6. ______________________________________________________________ 7. ______________________________________________________________ 8. ______________________________________________________________ 9. ______________________________________________________________ 10. ______________________________________________________________ GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM (GMO) People have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for many years using traditional breeding techniques. Artificial selection for specific, desired traits has resulted in a variety of different organisms, ranging from sweet corn to hairless cats. But this artificial selection, in which organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed subsequent generations, has been limited to naturally occurring variations. In recent decades, however, advances in the field of genetic engineering have allowed for precise control over the genetic changes introduced into an organism. Today, we can incorporate new genes from one species into a completely unrelated species through genetic engineering, optimizing agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances. Crop plants, farm animals, and soil bacteria are some of the more prominent examples of organisms that have been subject to genetic engineering. Current Use of Genetically Modified Organisms. Agricultural plants are one of the most frequently cited examples of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Some benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture are increased crop yields, reduced costs for food or drug production, reduced need for pesticides, enhanced nutrient composition and food quality, resistance to pests and disease, greater food security, and medical benefits to the world's growing population. Advances have also been made in developing crops that mature faster and tolerate aluminum, boron, salt, drought, frost, and other environmental stressors, allowing plants to grow in conditions where they might not otherwise flourish (Table 1; Takeda & Matsuoka, 2008). Other applications include the production of nonprotein (bioplastic) or nonindustrial (ornamental plant) products. Several animals have also been genetically engineered to increase yield and decrease susceptibility to disease. For example, salmon have been engineered to grow larger (Figure 1) and mature faster (Table 1), and cattle have been enhanced to exhibit resistance to mad cow disease (United States Department of Energy, 2007). Table 1: Examples of GMOs Resulting from Agricultural Biotechnology Example Genetically Conferred Trait Genetic Change Organism APPROVED COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS Glyphosate herbicide (Roundup) tolerance conferred by expression of a glyphosate-tolerant form of the plant enzyme 5- Herbicide tolerance Soybean enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) isolated from the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, strain CP4 Resistance to insect pests, specifically the European corn Insect resistance Corn borer, through expression of the insecticidal protein Cry1Ab from Bacillus thuringiensis High laurate levels achieved by Altered fatty acid inserting the gene for ACP Canola composition thioesterase from the California bay tree Umbellularia californica Resistance to plum pox virus Virus resistance Plum conferred by insertion of a coat protein (CP) gene from the virus  PRODUCTS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT Three genes for the manufacture of beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin Vitamin enrichment Rice A, in the endosperm of the rice prevent its removal (from husks) during milling Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) produced Vaccines Tobacco in transgenic tobacco induces immune response when injected into mice Fusion protein (F) from Newcastle disease virus (NDV) expressed in Oral vaccines Maize corn seeds induces an immune response when fed to chickens A type 1 growth hormone gene injected into fertilized fish eggs results in 6.2% retention of Faster maturation Coho salmon the vector at one year of age, as well as significantly increased growth rates Risks and Controversies Surrounding the Use of GMOs Even though the genes being transferred occur naturally in other species, there are unknown consequences to altering the natural state of an organism through foreign gene expression. After all, such alterations can change the organism's metabolism, growth rate, and/or response to external environmental factors. These consequences influence not only the GMO itself, but also the natural environment in which that organism can proliferate. Potential health risks to humans include the possibility of exposure to new allergens in genetically modified foods, as well as the transfer of antibiotic-resistant genes to gut flora. Horizontal gene transfer of pesticide, herbicide, or antibiotic resistance to other organisms would not only put humans at risk, but it would also cause ecological imbalances, allowing previously innocuous plants to grow uncontrolled, thus promoting the spread of disease among both plants and animals. Although the possibility of horizontal gene transfer between GMOs and other organisms cannot be denied, in reality, this risk is considered to be quite low. Horizontal gene transfer occurs naturally at a very low rate and, in most cases, cannot be simulated in an optimized laboratory environment without active modification of the target genome to increase susceptibility (Ma et al., 2003). In contrast, the alarming consequences of vertical gene transfer between GMOs and their wild-type counterparts have been highlighted by studying transgenic fish released into wild populations of the same species (Muir & Howard, 1999). The enhanced mating advantages of the genetically modified fish led to a reduction in the viability of their offspring. Thus, when a new transgene is introduced into a wild fish population, it propagates and may eventually threaten the viability of both the wild-type and the genetically modified organisms. Unintended Impacts on Other Species: The Bt Corn Controversy One example of public debate over the use of a genetically modified plant involves the case of Bt corn. Bt corn expresses a protein from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. Prior to construction of the recombinant corn, the protein had long been known to be toxic to a number of pestiferous insects, including the monarch caterpillar, and it had been successfully used as an environmentally friendly insecticide for several years. The benefit of the expression of this protein by corn plants is a reduction in the amount of insecticide that farmers must apply to their crops. Unfortunately, seeds containing genes for recombinant proteins can cause unintentional spread of recombinant genes or exposure of non-target organisms to new toxic compounds in the environment. The now-famous Bt corn controversy started with a laboratory study by Losey et al. (1999) in which the mortality of monarch larvae was reportedly higher when fed with milkweed (their natural food supply) covered in pollen from transgenic corn than when fed milkweed covered with pollen from regular corn. The report by Losey et al. was followed by another publication (Jesse & Obrycki, 2000) suggesting that natural levels of Bt corn pollen in the field were harmful to monarchs. Debate ensued when scientists from other laboratories disputed the study, citing the extremely high concentration of pollen used in the laboratory study as unrealistic, and concluding that migratory patterns of monarchs do not place them in the vicinity of corn during the time it sheds pollen. For the next two years, six teams of researchers from government, academia, and industry investigated the issue and concluded that the risk of Bt corn to monarchs was "very low" (Sears et al., 2001), providing the basis for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve Bt corn for an additional seven years. Unintended Economic Consequences Another concern associated with GMOs is that private companies will claim ownership of the organisms they create and not share them at a reasonable cost with the public. If these claims are correct, it is argued that use of genetically modified crops will hurt the economy and environment, because monoculture practices by large-scale farm production centers (who can afford the costly seeds) will dominate over the diversity contributed by small farmers who can't afford the technology. However, a recent meta-analysis of 15 studies reveals that, on average, two-thirds of the benefits of first-generation genetically modified crops are shared downstream, whereas only one-third accrues upstream (Demont et al., 2007). These benefit shares are exhibited in both industrial and developing countries. Therefore, the argument that private companies will not share ownership of GMOs is not supported by evidence from first-generation genetically modified crops ACTIVITY 4 GMO FOODS Direction: Post a picture of common GMO food in the box. Research on the background on the development of the food and its benefit and possible harm to human health GMO FOOD ____________________ ________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________