Republic of the Philippines

CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY

Virac, Catanduanes
_____________________________________________________________________________________

SOME KEY NOTES/ POINTERS TO REMEMBER

INFORMATION AGE

- Bioinformatics - the application of information technology to store, organize and

analyze vast amount of biological data which is available in the form sequences and
structures of proteins.
- Johannes Gutenberg - invented the printing press around 1440
- Printing Press - a device that applies pressure to an inked surface lying on a print
medium, such as cloth or paper, to transfer ink.
- The printing press made the mass production of books possible which made books
accessible not only in the upper class
- The beginnings of mass communication can be traced back to the invention of the
printing press
- United States created Harvard Mark 1 - electromechanical computer that was 50 feet
long and capable of doing calculations in seconds that usually took people hours.
- Howard Aiken and Grace Hopper designed the MARK series of computers at Harvard
University beginning in 1944.
- Enigma - an enciphering machine that the German armed forces used to securely send
messages.
- Alan Turing - He was hired in 1936 by the British top-secret Government Code and
Cipher School at Bletchley Park to break the Enigma code
- Alan Turing invented Bombe - An electromechanical machine that enabled the British
to decipher encrypted messages of the German Enigma machine
- Alan Turing presented a theoretical machine called Turing machine - can solve any
problem from simple instructions encoded on a paper tape.
- Advantages of Information Age
o Globalization – enabled countries to share ideas and information with each
other.
o Communication – made communication cheaper, quicker and more efficient.
o Cost Effectiveness – computerization and business process and increased
productivity.
o Creation of New Jobs – computer programmer, system analysts, hardware and
software developer and web designer.
- Robert Harris 12 Truths of Information Age
o Information must be complete
o Newer is equated to truer
o Selection is a viewpoint
o The media sells what the culture buys
o The early word gets the perm
o You are what you eat and so is your brain
o Anything in great demand will be counterfeited
o Ideas are seen as controversial
o Undead information walks ever on
o Media presence creates the story
o The medium selects the message
o The whole truth is a pursuit

BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTHY SOCIETY

- Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life present in an ecosystem.

- 5 Types of Biodiversity
o Genetic Biodiversity - Refers to the variations among organisms of the same
species.
o Species Biodiversity - Refers to the variety of species within a particular region.
Influenced by the environmental conditions in the region.
o Ecological Biodiversity - Refers to the network of different species in an
ecosystem and the interaction of these species.
o Marine Biodiversity – the variety of life in the ocean

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GEC 7: Science, Technology and Society PETER JOHN PAUL Q. TARIMAN
 Republic of the Philippines
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
Virac, Catanduanes
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Agrobiodiversity/Agricultural Biodiversity – the variety and variability of life
that contribute to food and agriculture. It is the result of the interaction of natural
selection processes and the careful selection and incentive developments of
farmers, herders and fisherman over time.
- Since 2600 BC, people have been using plants to treat illnesses, hence the practice of
herbal medicine.
- Salvia apiana (California sage) - an herbal plant used by Indian tribes of Southern
California to aid in childbirth and was believed to protect the immune system from
respiratory ailments.
- Alhagi maurorum (camel thorn) - Israelis use the roots of the plant to treat diarrhea.
The Konkani people smoked the plant to treat asthma, and Romans used the plant to
treat polyps.
- Ligusticum scoticum (Scottish lovage) - believed to treat hysterical and uterine
disorders. Its seeds are used to relieve flatulence and to stimulate the senses.
- Salicylic acid - active ingredient of the anti-inflammatory drug
- Aspirin - derived from the bark of the willow tree
- Morphine (Papaver somniferum “opium poppy”) - one of the most widely known
painkillers which was first marketed and used in the 1800s
- Norcardicins - a group of antibiotics produced by Nocardia bacteria, known for their
ability to inhibit the growth of various bacteria and fungi, offering potential therapeutic
applications in combating infections.
- Carbapenems - a class of antibiotics that are highly effective against a broad spectrum
of bacteria, including many that are resistant to other antibiotics, making them important
in the treatment of serious infections.
- Monobactams - It is very effective against a range of Gram-negative bacteria, including
some that are resistant to other antibiotics and useful in treating infections caused by
organisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.
- Sjogren’s syndrome - a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that happens when
the immune system attacks the glands that make moisture in the eyes, mouth, and other
parts of the body.
- Aqueducts - were invented and built by the Romans and the Greeks, to maintain stable
water supplies to communities that were far from bodies of water and irrigation of crops,
dams were built to maintain water supply in communities.
- The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement aimed at protecting the ozone
layer by regulating the production and use of ozone-depleting substances, considered
pivotal in environmental history for its success in curbing ozone depletion.
- The Kyoto Protocol targets mitigating climate change by setting binding emissions
reduction targets for industrialized nations, serving as a foundational framework in global
efforts to combat greenhouse gas emissions.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

- Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - are products of artificial manipulation and

alteration of a species’ genetic material in a laboratory using genetic engineering.
- Genetic Engineering - the deliberate manipulation of the organism’s where it may
involve transfer of genes from another organism. It was coined by Jack Wiliamson
- Humulin is used to reduce high blood sugar (glucose) levels in patients with diabetes
mellitus.
- Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which your pancreas does not produce enough
insulin to control your blood sugar level. Extra insulin is therefore needed.
- James Watson and Francis Crick – Pioneers of Recombinant DNA Technology
- In 1973, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen were the first scientists to genetically
modify an organism by combining genes from two different E. coli.
- Dolly – the first successfully cloned animal in history
- In the early 1980s, the milestone in GMO Technology is the “Patenting of GMOs and
the introduction of Humulin”
- In 1993, FDA approved Bovine Somatotropin (bST), a metabolic protein hormone used
to increase milk production in dairy cows for commercial use.
- In 1994, FDA approved the Flavr Savr tomato for sale on grocery stores. This kind of
tomato has a delayed-ripening effect that gives a longer shelf life compared with natural
tomatoes.
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GEC 7: Science, Technology and Society PETER JOHN PAUL Q. TARIMAN
 Republic of the Philippines
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
Virac, Catanduanes
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries:
o The Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health (CEEH, 2013) identified
the following roles of GMOs in the food and agricultural industries:
▪ Pest Resistance
▪ Virus Resistance
▪ Herbicide Tolerance
▪ Fortification
▪ Cosmetic Preservation
▪ Increased Growth Rate
- GMOs in Non-Food Crops and Microorganisms:
o Flower production – GMOs in' flower production are seen in modified color and
extended vase life of flowers.
o Paper production – modified characteristics of trees for higher yield of paper
production
o Pharmaceutical productions – modified plants to produce pharmaceutical
products.
o Bioremediation – use of modified plants that can assist in the bioremediation of
polluted sites.
o Enzyme and drug production – use of modified microorganisms that can
produce enzymes for food processing and medicines.
- Benefits of GMOs:
o Higher efficiency in farming
o Increase in harvest
o Control in fertility
o Increase in food processing
o Improvement of desirable characteristics
o Nutritional and pharmaceutical enhancement
o Reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides are over 400 million acres of GMO
farmlands all.
- Effects of GMOs in Humans
o More allergic – GMO food may trigger more allergic reactions, more to create
new ones, as side effect of the gene alteration.
o Gene mutation – GMO food may develop abnormalities and mutation, more
than the desired product of the gene alteration.
o 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 of the disease.
o Nutritional value – GMO food may have change in their nutritional value.
- Biosafety on GMOs:
o 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 us the
International Food Code. Codex is responsible for the development of standards,
codes of practices, guidelines, and recommendations on food safety.
o The Cartagena Protocol is an international agreement which aims to ensure the
safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs)
o 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.
- GMOs in the Philippines
o National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP)
▪ 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.
▪ The Department of Agriculture (2002) released Administrative Order
No. 8, the guideline for the importation and release into the environment
of GM plants and plant products. On that same year,the entry of GMO
importation started
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GEC 7: Science, Technology and Society PETER JOHN PAUL Q. TARIMAN
 Republic of the Philippines
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
Virac, Catanduanes
_____________________________________________________________________________________
▪ 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.
▪ December 2002 to present. There are 70 GMOS application approved
by the department of agriculture for the release to the environment. 62
GMOs are approved for food feed and processing and the remaining &
were approved for propagation.
▪ Senator Juan Flavier, authored a bill on the mandatory labeling of food
products with GMOs but did not pass the bill.
o In the year 2006, Philippines became part of the Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety.
▪ Executive Order No. 514 was issued to address the biosafety
requirements of the Cartagena Protocol and the establishment of the
National Biosafety Framework (NBF).
o 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 provincial ordinance.
o Davao City passed the Organic Agriculture Ordinance. This city ordinance
helps the prevention of field testing of GM Bt eggplant in the UP Mindanao
Campus.
o In 2012, Representative Teddy Casino, together with other congressmen, filed
a bill pushing for the mandatory labeling of GM food and food products.
o 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.

NANO WORLD

- Nanoscience - the study of structures and molecules on the scales of nanometers

ranging between 1 and 100 nm
- Nanotechnology - the branch of technology that deals with the manipulation and
study of matter at the nanoscale. It covers all types of research and technologies that
deal with the special properties of matter on an atomic molecular and supramolecular
scale.
- Nanotechnology is “CONVERGENT” because it brings together various fields of science
through its innovations.
- the term "nano-technology" was first used by Norio Taniguchi in 1974.
- In 1980, the emergence of nanotechnology as a field in occurred through convergence
of Drexler's theoretical and public work
- In 1986, Drexler co-founded The Foresight Institute to help increase public
awareness and understanding of nanotechnology concepts and implications.
- Three Dimensions of Nanotechnology
o First Dimension – tangible materials, devices and systems
o Second Dimension – Passive and static objects
o Third Dimension - Direct nanotechnology which refers to materials structured at
nanoscale components. This also extends to indirect nanotechnology (hugely
powerful information processors with individual nanoscale components.)
- A nanorobot or nanobot or molecular scale workers - is any active structure that is
capable of the following functions: actuation, sensing, manipulation, propulsion,
signaling, and information processing at the nanoscale.
- Nanofacture - The device will give hospitals and research labs a much easier way to
separate DNA from human fluid samples, which will help with genome sequencing,
disease diagnosis and forensic investigations.

GENE THERAPY

- Gene therapy - An experimental technique for correcting defective genes that are
responsible for disease development.

____________________________________________________________________________
GEC 7: Science, Technology and Society PETER JOHN PAUL Q. TARIMAN
 Republic of the Philippines
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
Virac, Catanduanes
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- Gene therapy involves the transfer of genetic material in a carrier or vector and the
uptake of the gene into targeted cells.
- Gene Augmentation Therapy - is the method of inserting genes or nucleic acid into
cells as a drug to treat genetic diseases. It is the insertion of a well-functioning Gene.
- In 1972, Theodore Friedman and Richard Roblin proposed that people with genetic
disorders can be treated by replacing defective DNA with good DNA.
- Stem Cells are a special class of cells characterized by their ability to Self-Renew
(Multiply to Generate Same Kind of Cells) and produce progenitor cell which are
committed to give rise to fully differentiated cells.
- VIRUSES - Vector that integrates genes into the DNA
- SOMATIC TREATMENT - Produced a permanent genetic change
- HUMAN EMBRYOS - Primary source of stem cells
- Different types of Gene Therapy
o Germ Line Gene Therapy - Result in permanent changes. Potential for offering
a permanent therapeutic effect for all who inherit the target gene. Possibility of
eliminating some diseases from a particular family
o Somatic Gene Therapy - Affects only the targeted cells in the patient, and is not
passed to future generations. Short-lived because the cells of the most tissues
ultimately die and are replaced by new cells
▪ Types of Somatic Gene Therapy
• Ex Vivo - Cells are modified outside the body and then
transported back in again. Called ex-vivo because the cells are
treated outside the body
• In Vivo - Genes are changed in cells when the cells are still in the
body. Called in-vivo because the genes are transferred to cells
inside the patient’s body
- In 1985, Dr. W. French Anderson and Dr. Michael Blasse worked together to show
that cells of patients with Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency can be corrected in
tissue culture.
- Viral Vector - are tool commonly used by molecular biologists to deliver genetic
materials into cells
- Non-Viral Vector – Naked DNA or DNA Complexes
- Bubble Boy Disease – an example of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- Gendicine - The first commercial gene therapy product approved in China in 2003 for
the treatment of certain cancers.
- Strimvelis - a medicine used to treat severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
due to adenosine deaminase deficiency (ADA-SCID).

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY CRISIS

- Climate change refers to long-term shifts and alterations in the Earth's climate patterns
and weather conditions.
- Climate change is both natural and anthropogenic (human activities).
- Global Warming - is generally defined as the general warming effect caused by
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Energy Crisis - refers to the challenges and risks associated with energy production
and consumption in the context of a changing climate. It involves transitioning away from
fossil fuels, deploying renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, ensuring
equitable energy access, and enhancing the resilience of energy systems.
- Causes of Climate Change:
o Deforestation - the full- or large-scale removal of a forest, often resulting in
damage to the quality of the land and related ecosystems in order to clear land
for human development
o Generating power - Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels
causes a large chunk of global emissions Most
o Powering buildings - residentially and commercial buildings consume over half
of all electricity. As they continue to draw on coal, oil, and natural gas for heating
and cooling, they emit significant quantities of greenhouse gas emissions.
o Waste Management - Landfills produce methane as organic waste decomposes,
while the incineration of waste materials can release CO2 and other pollutants

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GEC 7: Science, Technology and Society PETER JOHN PAUL Q. TARIMAN
 Republic of the Philippines
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
Virac, Catanduanes
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Agricultural Practices - Livestock farming, particularly cattle, produces methane
through enteric fermentation (digestive processes) and manure management.
Additionally, the use of synthetic fertilizers and the decomposition of organic
matter in soils can release nitrous oxide.
o Industrial Processes - Certain industrial activities, such as cement production,
steel manufacturing, and chemical production, generate greenhouse gas
emissions as byproducts.
- Effects of Climate Change:
o Destruction of Habitat
o Cause of Migration
o Soil Depletion
o Rising Temperature
o Change in Weather Patterns (such as precipitation, extreme weather
conditions)
o Melting of Ice leading to Sea Water Level Rise
o Disruption of Biodiversity
o Health Impact (may lead to death)
o Social and Economic Impact
- Topography or man-made barriers like high-rise buildings can also create a
temperature inversion. The cold air may be blocked by these barriers and then pushed
under the warmer air rising from the source, thus creating the inversion.
- El Niño is a normal climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface
waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean also known as the “warm phase”.
- La Niña the “cool phase” which is a pattern that describes the unusual cooling of the
surface waters of the region.
- Clean Air Act of 1999 (R.A 8749) - An act providing for a comprehensive air pollution
control policy and for other purposes. An act, which is a consolidation of House Bill 6216
and Senate Bill No 1255 passed by the house of representative on May 10 1999 and
Senate on May 13 1999.
- Programs/ Activities Implemented in support for the Clean Air Act:
o Bantay Tambutso / Linis Hangin program
▪ Passing of uniform guidelines for smoke belching motor vehicles;
▪ Passing of a bill on providing incentives for e vehicles;
▪ Establishing of lanes for non-motorized modes of transport.
o Bantay Tsimneya
▪ 23 Firms accredited as third-party smokestack emission testing teams
▪ Provision for CCTV camera with focus at smokestack emission; and
▪ Classification of generation sets corresponding to its power capacity vis à
vis the frequency of sampling episodes.
o Designation of attainment and non-attainment area sources
o Airshed Areas - Are areas with similar climate, meteorology (wind speed and
direction) and topology which affect the interchange and diffusions of pollutants
in the atmosphere, or areas which share common interest or face similar
development programs, prospects or problems.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

- Environmental Awareness - Process of being aware of our natural environment and

making choices than an individual can do that benefit the earth rather than harm it.
- Environmentalism - an ideology that evokes the necessity and responsibility of humans
to respect, protect, and preserve the natural world from its anthropogenic (caused by
humans) affliction.
- Environmental Education - Process of educating individuals about environmental
issues, fostering and understand of the environment’s intricacies, and promoting
sustainable practices to safeguard it, ultimately cultivating awareness and encouraging
responsible stewardship of natural resources
- Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs are ideal to use because they lessen up to 80% of
energy consumption compared with incandescent bulbs.
- Three types of resource use: Conservation, Preservation, and Exploitation
- The responsibility to care for it should also be shared not only locally but also regionally
and globally.
____________________________________________________________________________
GEC 7: Science, Technology and Society PETER JOHN PAUL Q. TARIMAN
 Republic of the Philippines
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
Virac, Catanduanes
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- Ecological Footprint - It is a measure that indicates how much resources from the
environment are required to support a specific way of life or business.
- Environmental Sustainability - The ability to maintain an ecological balance in our
planet’s natural resources to support the wellbeing of current and future generations.
- Four Principles of sustainability:
o Reliance on Solar Energy
o Biodiversity/ Biological Diversity
o Population Control
o Nutrient Cycling
- Republic acts that raise environmental awareness in the Philippines:
o REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9729: THE CLIMATE CHANGE ACT OF 2009
▪ An act mainstreaming climate into government policy formulation,
establishing the framework strategy and program on climate change,
creating for this purpose the climate change commission, and for other
purposes.
▪ Role of Gov’t Agencies under R.A 9729
• DepEd - shall integrate climate change into primary and
secondary education curricula and/or subjects.
• DILG and Local Government Academy - shall facilitate the
development and provision of a training program for LGUs in
climate change.
• DENR - shall oversee the establishment and maintenance of a
climate change information management system and network.
• DFA - shall review international agreements related to climate
change and make the necessary recommendation for ratification
and compliance by the government on matters pertaining thereto.
o ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ACT. OF 2008 (R.A.
9512)
▪ Created as “an act to promote environmental awareness through
environmental education and for other purposes”
▪ It was approved on December 12, 2008 by former president Gloria-
Macapagal Arroyo.
▪ Role of Gov’t Agencies under R.A 9512
• DepEd - curriculum for science is inclined towards developing
scientifically, technologically and environmentally literate and
productive members of the society.
• CHED & TESDA - mandated to include environmental education
and awareness programs and activities in the national service
training program or NSTP as part of the civic welfare training
service component or CWTS that is required for all the tertiary
education and vocational courses with a curriculum of at least two
(2) years.
• DENR - shall have the primary responsibility of informing all
agencies concerned updates about the environment
• DOST - mandated to create programs to ensure that students
receive science-based quality information on the environment and
provide assistance for the development of environment-friendly
solutions.
o TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT (R.A.
6969)
▪ provides for the regulation, restriction or prohibition of the importation,
manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical
substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk and/or injury to
health or the environment.
▪ RA 6969 directs the DENR to establish rules, regulation and programs for
controlling chemical substances and hazardous wastes management in
the Philippines.
▪ DENR Administration Order No. 29, signed in June 1992, is the
“Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act 6969
-

____________________________________________________________________________
GEC 7: Science, Technology and Society PETER JOHN PAUL Q. TARIMAN
 Republic of the Philippines
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
Virac, Catanduanes
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF 2004 (RA 9275)
▪ An act providing for a comprehensive water quality management and for
other purposes.
▪ Aims to protect the country’s water bodies from pollution from land-based
sources (industries and commercial establishments, agriculture and
community/household activities).
▪ The Clean Water Act of 2004, or RA 9275, is crucial for ensuring the
protection and sustainable management of our water resources. It sets
standards for the quality of water bodies, regulates pollution sources,
promotes wastewater treatment, and ultimately safeguards public health
and the environment.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RESOURCES

- Alternative energy resources, also known as renewable energy sources, are energy
sources that are replenished naturally and are considered environmentally friendly. This
does not come from fossil fuels, and thus produces little to no greenhouse gases like
carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Benefits of Alternative Energy Resource:
o Reduce Greenhouse gas emission
o Energy security
o Creating jobs and economic growth
o Diversifying energy mix
o Improving public health
o Cost effective
- Types of Alternative Energy Resource:
o Solar Energy
o Wind Energy
o Hydroelectric Energy
o Geothermal Energy
▪ Hydrothermal energy
o Biomass Energy

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GEC 7: Science, Technology and Society PETER JOHN PAUL Q. TARIMAN