SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY

AND SOCIETY

The Information Age

Also known as the Computer Information and Communication

Age, Digital Age, or New Media Technology became a significant
Age. part of the economy.

Traditional industry brought through Industry is becoming more

industrialization, to an economy based on information-intensive and less
information technology. labour and capital-intensive.

Digital industry shapes a knowledge- The Information Age was enabled

based society surrounded by a high- by building on the developments in
tech global economy. the Technological Revolution.

Biodiversity and the

Healthy Society

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms, not just too rare and endangered forms of life, nor just too big,
attractive animals and plants. Also, biodiversity refers to more than individual species. It includes the genes
they contain, and the ecosystems and habitats of which they form part. So, biodiversity can be considered at
three levels:

Genetic - that is, the differences between the genes of particular species
Species - where a particular variety of animal or plant may occur in many different shapes, sizes, and
colors
Ecosystem - where a habitat contains a number of species which depend on each other

Biodiversity is essential for supporting human life on earth. The health of the natural environment depends on
continuing diversity; for instance, if one species is lost from an ecosystem, then all the other species in that
ecosystem are affected.

Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or
prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a
disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or
surgery.

Although gene therapy is a promising treatment option for a number of

diseases, the technique remains risky and is still under study to make sure
that it will be safe and effective. Gene therapy is currently being tested only
for diseases that have no other cures.