Subject: Science, Technology & Society

Date: January 5, 2023

Module 13

Content: Specific Issues in Science, Technology and Society

Topic:

Genetically modified organisms, GMOs in:

a. Non food and agricultural industries

b. Non food crops and micro-organisms

Benefits and Risks of GMO’s & Biosafety in GMOs

GMOs in the Philippine Context

 objectives
Upon successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:

 identify the issues on genetically modified organisms (GMOs);

 discuss different implications and impacts of GMOs;

 identify the uses and effects of GMOs and gene therapy on society; and

 create a research on the impact of GMOs in the Philippine context.

 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Organism whose genome has been engineered in the laboratory in

order to favor the expression of desired physiological traits or the
generation of desired biological products.

GMOs are those which were genetically engineered in a laboratory by

incorporating a small foreign DNA fragment carrying a gene of interest
into the native.
In conventional livestock production, crop farming, and even
pet breeding, it has long been the practice to breed select
individuals of a species in order to produce offspring that
have desirable traits.
A Labradoodle is a crossbreed dog created by crossing
the Labrador Retriever and the Standard, Miniature, or
Toy poodle. The term first appeared in 1955, but was not
initially popular.
 What is selective breeding?
Selective breeding involves choosing parents with particular
characteristics to breed together and produce offspring with
more desirable characteristics.
Humans have selectively bred plants and animals for
thousands of years including:
crop plants with better yields
ornamental plants with particular flower shapes and colours
farm animals that produce more, better quality meat or wool
dogs with particular physiques and temperaments, suited to
do jobs like herd sheep or collect pheasants.
Selective breeding aims to adapt an organism’s
characteristics in a way that is desirable to the humans that
breed them.
 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

In genetic modification, however, recombinant genetic

technologies are employed to produce organisms whose
genomes have been precisely altered at the molecular
level, usually by the inclusion of genes from unrelated
species of organisms that code for traits that would not be
obtained easily through conventional selective breeding.
10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

1. Soy

Up to 90% of soybeans in the market have been

genetically modified to be naturally resistant to an
herbicide called, Round Up. This increased resistance to
the herbicide allows farmers to use more Round Up to kill
weeds. However, this results not only in a genetically
modified food product, but also a food product loaded with
more chemicals.
 10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

2. Corn

Half of the US farms growing corn to sell to the

conglomerate, Monsanto, are growing GMO corn. Most of
this corn is going to be used for human consumption.
Genetically modified corn has been linked to health
problems, including weight gain and organ disruption.
10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

3. Canola oil

Canola oil is derived from rapeseed oil. It is considered

one of the most chemically altered oils sold in the US. 10
most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.
 10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

4. Cotton

Even cotton has been genetically modified to increase

yield and resistance to disease. Most concern relates to
the cotton oil. Cotton originating from India, and China, in
particular, is considered higher risk for personal health.
10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

5. Milk

One fifth of the dairy cows in the United States have been
given growth hormones to help them grow faster and
increase their yield. These hormones can be found in
some of the milk produced by these cows. These growth
hormones have been shown to act inside the human
body.
10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

6. Sugar

Genetically modified sugar beets were introduced to the

US market in 2009. These sugar beets are modified to
resist Roundup, like corn.
 10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

7. Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used instead of sugar

by many people. There is some question concerning the
safety of aspartame in the body, including its possible link
to certain cancers. Aspartame is manufactured from
genetically modified bacteria.
 10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

8. Zucchini

Genetically modified zucchini contains a toxic protein that

helps make it more resistant to insects. This introduced
insecticide, has recently been found in human blood,
including that of pregnant women and fetuses. This
indicates that some of the insecticide is making its way
into our bodies rather than being broken down and
excreted.
 10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

9. Yellow squash

Yellow squash has also been modified with the toxic

proteins to make it insect resistant. This plant is very
similar to zucchini, and both have also been modified to
resist viruses.
10 most common GMO foods so you can be more aware
while grocery shopping.

10. Papaya

Genetically modified papaya trees have been grown in

Hawaii since 1999. These Papayas are sold in the United
States and Canada for human consumption. These
papayas have been modified to be naturally resistant to
Papaya Ringspot virus, and also to delay the maturity of
the fruit. Delaying maturity gives suppliers more time to
ship the fruit to supermarkets.
These are just 10 of the most prevalent GMO foods found
in the supermarket. There are many others currently for
sale and being grown for the market.

GMO safety is not yet certain, so if you want to stay away

from it always keep an eye out for a label that indicates
food is organic or non-GMO.
Genetically engineered foods claimed that:

1. More nutritious food.

2. Tastier food.
3. Disease- and drought-resistant plants that require fewer
environmental resources (such as water and fertilizer).
4. Less use of pesticides.
5. Increased supply of food with reduced cost and longer
shelf life.
6. Faster growing plants and animals.
GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries

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.
GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries

1. Pest resistance - genetically modified plants to resist

certain pests.

2. Virus resistance -genetically modified plants to resist

certain virus.

3. Herbicide tolerance is a plants' ability to withstand a

particular chemical herbicide. This allows the farmer to kill
weeds while not harming the crops.

4. Fortification is a strengthening or improvement, as by

addition of or intensification with another traits.

5. Increase growth rate

 GMOs in NON FOOD CROPS and MICROORGANISMS

GMO crops that are tolerant to herbicides help farmers

control weeds without damaging the crops.

When farmers use these herbicide-tolerant crops they do

not need to till the soil, which they normally do to get rid of
weeds.

This no-till planting helps to maintain soil health and lower

fuel and labor use.
 GMOs in Non food crops and micro-organisms

1. Flower production

Moonseries (blue carnations) are the first

genetically modified flowers in the world that
were commercialized. Currently, these blue
carnations are produced in Columbia and
Ecuador, and are sold primarily in the USA,
in Europe and some countries as well.
2. Paper

According to researchers from the University of British

Columbia, they have engineered trees that are easier to
break down, unlike the normal ones which require about 200
chemicals to break down the fiber to produce pulp. The new
trees will require fewer chemicals and less energy to
produce resources and the process will emit fewer
environmental pollutants, says a report published in
Science.
3. Pharmaceuticals

Many pharmaceutical drugs in the form of complex proteins

require 3D structures that are important for their functions.
Genetically engineered (transgenic, GMO) animals/animal
cells are created so they serve as “bioreactors” to produce
these drugs at an industrial scale.
4. Bioremediation - the use of either naturally occurring or deliberately
introduced microorganisms or other forms of life to consume and break
down environmental pollutants, in order to clean up a polluted site.
5. GMOs in the medical field

GMOs have emerged as one of the mainstays of biomedical

research since the 1980s. For example, GM animal models
of human genetic diseases enabled researchers to test
novel therapies and to explore the roles of candidate risk
factors and modifiers of disease outcome.
 The Possible Benefits of Genetic Engineering
More nutritious food or nutritional and pharmaceutical
enhancement

Tastier food and Increase in food processing

Disease- and drought-resistant plants that require fewer

environmental resources (such as water and fertilizer)

Less use of pesticides and higher efficiency in farming

Increased supply of food with reduced cost and longer shelf

life

Increase in harvest and reduce the use of fertilizer &

pesticides

Improvement of desirable characteristics

 The possible benefits of genetic engineering include:

 Faster growing plants and animals

 Food with more desirable traits, such as potatoes that produce
less of a cancer-causing substance when fried

 Medicinal foods that could be used as vaccines or other

medicines.
 Risks of GMO
1. There are inadequate studies on the effects of GMOs to
humans and the environment.

2. Genetic engineering promotes mutations in organisms

which the long term effect is still unknown

3. Human consumption of GMO's might have the ff. effects:

a. More allergic reactions

b. Gene mutation

c. Antibiotic resistance

d. Nutritional value
 Environmental Risks caused by GMO's

1. Risk in gene flow

2. Emergence of new forms of resistance and secondary

pest and weed problem

3. Recombination of virus and bacteria to produce new

pathogens
 Direct environmental risks caused by GMO

1. May cause disruption of the natural communities through

competition or interference,
 Direct environmental risks caused by GMO

2. May cause harmful effects to ecosystem processes if GMO's

interfere with the natural biochemical cycles,
 Direct environmental risks caused by GMO

3. May cause negative impacts to the consumer of GMO products,

 Direct environmental risks caused by GMO

4. Possibility of unexpected behavior of the GMOs in the

environment if it escapes in the intended use and may pose
threats or become pests.
 Indirect environmental risks

1. May have impacts to biodiversity caused by the alteration

in agricultural practices.
 Indirect environmental risks

2. May have varied environmental impacts due to GMOs

interaction and release in the natural environment.
 Indirect environmental risks

3. Alteration of agricultural practices such as evolution of

insects, pests and weeds that become resistant to GMO
crops.
 Human health Risks caused by GMO

1. May have adverse effects since it is not naturally or

organically produced.
 Human health Risks caused by GMO

2. May alter the balance of existing micro organisms in the

human digestive system.
 Human health Risks caused by GMO

3. Production of toxins maybe detrimental to human health.

 Human health Risks caused by GMO

4. Production of allergens may have adverse effects on

humans.
 Other potential risks are:

1. Human Genome Project- mapping of human genes to

provide framework for research and studies in the field of
medicine,
 Other potential risks are:

2. Mutation of genetically engineered microorganisms,

 Other potential risks are:

3. Cloning - the asexual reproduction of an organism using

parent cell through genetic engineering.
 Biosafety in GMOs

“Biosafety” means the mechanism developed through policy

and procedures to ensure the environmentally safe
application of biotechnology which results to develop
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
 GMOs in the Philippine Context

The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to

approve the commercial cultivation of a genetically modified
crop for feeds and food.
 GMOs in the Philippine Context

What is the impact of this GMO in the Philippine industry?

Productivity growth of the country's corn industry was

estimated to be 11.45 percent higher due to GM corn
adoption, according to the study. The total welfare gain, as
measured by the equivalent variation of income, reached
$189.4 million, or nearly a tenth of a percent of total
household income.
GMO concerns started in 1990 with the creation of National
Committee on the biosafety of the Philippines.

It developed the guidelines on the planned release of

genetically manipulated organisms and potentially harmful
exotic species in 1998 by the Department of Agriculture.
Administrative Order No. 8 S. 2002 on Rules and
Regulations for the Importation and Release into the
Environment of Plants and Plant Products derived from the
Use of Modern Biotechnology.

In 2003, the entry of GMO importation started & the

Philippines was marked to be the 1st country in Asia to
approve commercial cultivation of GMO's when GM corn
planting was approved in 2002.
In 2004, the Philippines was classified by the international
service for acquisition of Agri-Biotech application which grow
50,000 hectares of GMO crops annually.

In 2010 - Organic Agriculture Act was issued encouraging

organic agriculture than GMO related agriculture.

In 2012, - a bill was filed pushing for the mandatory labeling

of GM food and food products.
In what is regarded as a historic move, the Supreme Court
of the Philippines in December 2015 ordered a permanent
ban on the field testing of GM (genetically modified)
eggplant and a temporary halt to all applications for contain
use, import, propagation and commercialization of GM
crops and products.

The Philippine government ruled that Bt talong, a

genetically modified (GM) eggplant that contains a gene
from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is just
like a conventional eggplant and is safe for human
consumption.
What is the current ruling of the Supreme Court about
GMO products?

In a unanimous decision, the Philippine Supreme Court on

Tuesday, July 26, 2016, reversed its December 2015
ruling, which temporarily stopped the field testing,
propagation, commercialization, and importation of
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country.
In 2016 – Five government agencies namely, Department
of Science & Technology, Department of Agriculture,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
Department of Health and Department of the Interior &
Local Government, released a joint department circular
paving the way to issuance of new permits for planting &
importing GM crops in the country.
Thank You For Listening!