MODULE 4 - SCITECH 101 - Science, Technology, and Society

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society
This is a property of Holy Cross of Davao College. No part of this course pack may be
reproduced or photocopied without a written consent from authorized school
administrators.
Table of Contents
Page
Lesson 1: Historical Antecedents in which Social Considerations
Changed the Course of Science and Technology 6
Lesson 2: Intellectual Revolutions that defined Society 20
Lesson 3: Science and Technology and the Nation Building 32
.
Lesson 4: The Human Person Flourishing in terms of Science
and Technology 41
Lesson 5: The Good Life 45
Lesson 6: When Technology and Humanity Cross 51
Lesson 7: Why does the future not need us? 55
Lesson 8: The Information Age (Gutenberg to Social Media 59
Lesson 9: Biodiversity and the Healthy Society 63
Lesson 10: Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) 68
Lesson 11: The Nano World 78

Lesson 12: Gene Therapy (Stem Cells) 88

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MODULE SUMMARY
Module I General Ideas and Historic Developments

Historical Antecedents in which Social Considerations Changed the Course of Science
Lesson I
and Technology
Lesson II Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society
Lesson III Science, Technology, and Nation Building
Module II Science and Technology and the Human Situation

Lesson IV The Human Person Flourishing in Terms of Science and Technology
Lesson V The Good Life
Lesson VI When Technology and Humanity Cross
Module III Future and Natural Environment

Lesson VII Why the Future Does Not Need Us?
Lesson VIII Information Age
Lesson IX Biodiversity and a Healthy Society
Module IV Developments and Issues in Science and Technology

Lesson X Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Lesson XI Nanotechnology
Lesson XII Gene Therapy

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COURSE INFORMATION
Course Code: Sci Tech 101 Units: 3 units

Course Pre-requisites: None Number of Hours: 3 hours/week

Course Description:
This course deals with the interaction between science and technology and the social, cultural, and
economic context that shapes shaped by them. This interdisciplinary course engages the student to
confront the realities brought about by science and technology in society. Such realities pervade the
personal, public, and global aspects of our living and are integral to human development.
Scientific knowledge and technological development happen in the context of a society with all its
political-cultural, economic, and philosophical undermining at play. This course seeks to instill reflective
knowledge in the students that they are able to live the good life and display ethical decision-making in the
face of scientific and technological achievement.
This course discusses how science has influenced human society and vice-versa. It examines the
interaction between the human quest to understand the natural world and how this understanding has
fashioned society and its development.
Course Outline:
I. Historical Antecedents in which Social Consideration: Changed the Course of Science and
Technology
II. Intellectual Revolutions that defined Society
III. Science and Technology and the Nation Building
IV. The Human Person Flourishing in terms of Science and Technology
V. The Good Life
VI. When Technology and Humanity Cross
VII. Why does the future not need us?
VIII. The Information Age (Gutenberg to Social Media
IX. Biodiversity and the Healthy Society
X. The Nano World
XI. Gene Therapy (Stem Cells)
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Articulate the impacts of science and technology on society, specifically Philippine society.
2. Explain how science and technology affect society and the environment and their role in nation-
building.
3. Analyze the human condition in order to reflect deeply and express philosophical ramifications that
are meaningful to the student as a part of society.
4. Define and demonstrate the impact of social media on the students’ life and Philippine society in
general.
5. Imbibe the importance of science and technology in the preservation of the environment and the
development of the Filipino nation.
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6. Critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress of science and technology such that the student
may be able to define for himself/herself the meaning of the good life.
7. Foster the value of a healthy lifestyle toward the holistic and sustainable development of society
and the environment.
8. Creatively present the importance and contributions of science and technology to society.
9. Examine shared concerns that make up the good life in order to come up with innovative and
creative solutions to contemporary issues guided by ethical standards.
10. Illustrate how social media and the information age impact their lives and their understanding of
climate change.
Grading System:
Prelim Grade
Quizzes, Assignment, Outputs 50%

Prelim Exam 25%
Midterm Exam 25%

100%
Tentative Final Grade

Quizzes, Assignment, Outputs 50%
Semi-Final Exam 25%
Final Exam 25%
100%
Midterm Grade + Tentative Final Grade

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Guidelines:
1. Students have the option to take this course online or offline.

2. Online and offline students are given the Google classroom code upon enrollment.
3. Online classes are synchronous and asynchronous.
4. Synchronous classes are held one hour per week through Google Meet. The rest of the week is
allotted for asynchronous instruction.
5. Those who opted for offline instruction are required to enroll in the Google classroom to meet their
instructor and for more specific instructions.
6. Offline students are required to take the major examinations online together with the online
students as scheduled.
7. Offline students are required to submit their activities/outputs one week before the major
examinations.
Lesson 10
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Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
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Objectives:
At the end of this session, you as an STS student will be capable to:
1. determine the benefits and drawbacks of using genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from the
perspective of health and the economy; and
2. determine existing and anticipated moral and bioethical issues relating to genetically modified
organisms (GMOs).
Introduction
Plants and animals with altered genetic makeup are genetically modified organisms or GMOs.
They've been genetically modified in the lab to include genes from other creatures, resulting in new traits
like chemical tolerance and faster growth.
Activity.
SKETCH ME OUT!
Direction: You will need all of your art materials and a separate bond paper for this activity. You are tasked
to design your version of an ideal human being. Using the box provided on the next page, paste a scanned
copy or an image of your sketch. You are free to use whatever medium you would like to have in your
sketch. A separate box below on this page is provided for you as well to list down the characteristics of your
ideal human being. Your creativity in this activity will surely be unleashed!

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Analysis
Think about these questions, and support your answer in every question by limiting it to three to five
sentences only.
1. If human beings, particularly married couples, could create an “ideal” baby, should they be given a
chance and absolute right?
2. Should scientists and doctors help parents genetically customize an embryo that would become
that better or “ideal” baby?
3. Suppose that you are a parent. Are you open to the idea of designing an ideal offspring?

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Abstraction
Genetically Modified Organisms
Plants and animals whose genetic composition changed in a laboratory are known as genetically modified
organisms (GMOs). Scientists use genes from other creatures to create new traits not found in the plants
and animals they are modifying.
When scientists utilize genetic engineering to change an organism's genes, they're usually looking to
introduce a desirable trait, usually for production reasons. Genetic engineering is frequently used to
develop a property that an organism does not naturally possess, such as longer shelf life, disease
resistance, or various colors or flavors.
Although the risks and advantages of genetically modified organisms are hotly discussed, genetic
modification is permitted in traditional farming in the United States.
What are the Functions of Genetically Modified Organisms?
Farmers have long used breeding to improve desirable traits in both plants and animals.
• Choosing seeds from the healthiest or fastest-growing plants as sources for the next year's harvest is a
traditional strategy for doing this.
• Breeding animals for size or output, such as milk or egg production, by grafting branches from one tree
onto another
As scientists and farmers better-understood plant and animal genetics, the process became more
sophisticated, allowing farmers and scientists to breed for more specific features. They also started
developing novel crop hybrids in laboratories, using chemicals and radiation to elicit desired genetic
alterations in plants.
These efforts have resulted in developing novel crops such as drought-resistant rice cultivars and wheat
cultivars with much better yields. These efforts are taken to a new level with GMOs, which go beyond
naturally occurring features produced by selective breeding. GMO scientists directly change the genetic
code of plants and animals by adding genes that convey the desired qualities rather than generating
mutations that provide desired characteristics.
Depending on the features that scientists seek to develop, the genes introduced into one species could
come from an entirely separate species.
GMOs come in a variety of forms.

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Roundup Ready corn, a Monsanto Company-created strain of corn resistant to glyphosate herbicide, is a
well-known example of GMO food. The insertion of a bacterial gene has resulted in GMO-bred glyphosate
resistance. It allows farmers to use more of the pesticide, also made by Monsanto, in their corn-growing
areas.
Monsanto also developed Roundup Ready soy, alfalfa, canola, cotton, and sorghum. Furthermore, the
business has genetically modified corn, soybeans, and cotton to increase its pest resistance.
Other businesses are working on creating genetically engineered animals. AquaBounty

Technologies, for example, developed AquAdvantage salmon, a genetically modified
Atlantic salmon authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It
uses genes from other species, such as Chinook salmon, to help it develop twice as fast
as non-genetically modified Atlantic salmon.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are widely used
Insect-resistant (Bt) and herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops are two prevalent forms of
genetically engineered crops. Bt crops produce insecticidal proteins by containing genes
from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium. Farmers employ herbicides to manage weeds,
and HT crops are resistant to them. Since then, the number of acres planted with Bt and HT
crops in the United States has expanded considerably.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Criticisms
The cultural and political debate over genetically modified organisms is still going on.
GMOs, according to proponents, boost the food supply by expanding or speeding up crop
production. In the mid-1990s, opponents said that the risks to persons and the environment
outweighed the advantages.
Threats
The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that in the existing contemporary time, available GMOs are
no more likely than traditional foods to cause health problems but that foods must be evaluated on a case-
by-case basis.
GMOs are controlled in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (EPA). The following
are the primary concerns of GMO critics:
• Allergy symptoms
• Possibility of transmitted genes from foods infecting human cells and causing harm
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• Outcrossing, or the introduction of GMO genes into normal crops
According to the WHO, there have been no allergic reactions to GMOs on the market, and the risk of gene
transfers and outcrossing is low; however, safeguards are advised.
Other issues with genetically modified crops include the farming techniques encouraged by their use.
According to studies, the use of glyphosate has expanded considerably since the introduction of Roundup
Ready crops.
In the scientific and environmental communities, there are still unanswered questions about the impact of
this increase on human and environmental health. Glyphosate is classified as a human carcinogen.
Impact on the Environment
Another point of contention with GMOs is their environmental impact, such as the impact of Bt crops on
non-target species.
Bees, for example, are not classified as pests, although Bt crops may disrupt bee numbers, affecting the
pollination of numerous ecosystems and crops. Non-target species such as butterflies and birds may also
be harmed.
Furthermore, pests or plants affected by Bt crops are likely to resist the detrimental impacts they may have
on them, leading to an infinite cycle of crops being transformed, followed by pest resistance. This has been
observed with the spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds following the introduction of Roundup Ready crops
due to glyphosate misuse.
Application
ARTICLE REVIEW AND REPORT

Instruction: Read carefully the article entitled “GMOs in the Philippines” by Business Mirror, dated June 21,
2022. You can access the article through this link, https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/06/21/impact-of-
gmos-in-the-philippines/. Limit your answers to three to five sentences only. Prepare a summary of the
article and answer the following guide questions below.

Guide Questions

1. Is there an emerging ethical dilemma implied directly or indirectly in the article?

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2. What are the compelling factors or events that led the Philippines as a country to face such
concern?
3. What are the pros and cons of GMOs mentioned in the article?
4. Why is it important to question the moral and ethical issues related to GMOs in the Philippines?
5. In the face of uncontrollable advancement in science and technology, with the presence of GMOs,
how is it significant that STS as a subject should be educated for students like you?

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Closure
Thank you for a job well done! You are now free to move on to the next lesson. Take pleasure in learning.

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Lesson 11
The NanoWorld
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Objectives:
1. Discuss the primary societal consequences of nanotechnology (both potential and actual);
2. Examine the problem using the STS conceptual framework; and
3. Assess the issue's societal costs and benefits.
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Introduction
New technological tools were developed by scientific researchers hence improving the
aspects of our lives. Engineers and scientists were capable of building materials with innovative
properties as they handled nanomaterials. The use of research and its application of knowledge on
nanomaterials will surely bring tremendous implications in respective areas of society. Let’s move on
and find out some information about this topic. Keep on learning.
Activity
HOW FAR CAN YOU CUT ME?
Instruction: You will need scratch paper, a measuring device, particularly a ruler, and pair of scissors for
this activity. Using the scissors and your scratch paper, try to cut it to the smallest extent that you can
achieve. Take note, be careful in cutting down the scratch paper, for it might cause accidental cuts from
your fingers. After achieving your desired size, proceed in answering the guide questions under the
analysis part.

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Analysis
Direction: Read and analyze the question below. Express your answer in not less than three sentences.
1. Do you find the activity easy or difficult?
2. How far were you able to cut the scratch paper? Describe your final output.
3. Do you find difficulty in measuring your final paper? What was the final precise measurement?
4. Aside from the paper which you cut using a pair of scissors earlier, are there other things that you
consider absolutely small that cannot be seen by the naked eye? List them all.

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Abstraction
Nano's Latin name is "nenus," which means "dwarf." As a result, nano stands for incredibly small. Nano
World translates to "tiny world." The discipline of sciences, engineering, and technology is known as
nanotechnology at the nanoscale, ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanoscience and nanotechnology
are branches of science that research and apply microscopic objects in fields such as materials science,
engineering, physics, biology, and chemistry.
Nanotechnology and nanoscience were born on December 29, 1959, when physicist Richard Feynman
proposed a mechanism for scientists to guide and control individuals' atoms and molecules in his talk
"There's plenty of room at the Bottom" during the American Physical Society meeting at California Institute
of Technology. Professor Norio Taniguchi coined the term 'nanotechnology" a decade after the dawn of
ultra-precision machining.
What is a Nanoscale, and how small is it?
A nanometer is a billionth of a meter or 10-9 of a meter. The illustration above shows how small
the nano-scale is compared to other particles of materials.

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Nanomaterial manipulation necessitates a thorough understanding of their types and dimensions.
Nanomaterials are divided into categories based on their sizes and forms. They can take the form of
nanometer-sized particles, tubes, wires, films, flakes, or shells. To take benefit of tier special traits, one
should be able to observe and alter them.
Ways on How Nanotechnology impacts human lives
1. Computers are faster, smaller, and more powerful, consume less power, and have longer-lasting
batteries. Carbon nanotube-based circuits could be critical in maintaining computer power, allowing
Moore's law to continue.
2. Medical diagnostic equipment that is faster, more functional, and more accurate. Real-time point-of-care
testing is possible using lab-on-a-chip technology, which speeds up medical care delivery. Implant surfaces
made of nanomaterials last longer and are less likely to become infected.
3. Pharmaceutical nanoparticles boost absorption within the body and make delivery easier,
which is generally done through a combination of medical devices. Chemotherapy
medications can also be delivered to specific cells, such as cancer cells, using nanoparticles.

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4. Fabrics incorporating nanoparticles or nanofibers can
improve stain resistance, water resistance, and flame
resistance without adding much to the weight, thickness, or
stiffness of the fabric. Pants with "nanowhiskers," for example,
are water and stain-resistant.
5. Water Nano-sized particles, including practically all viruses

and bacteria, may be removed from water that filters 15-20
nanometers wide. These portable, cost-effective water
treatment systems are great for improving the quality of
drinking water in developing countries.
6. Commercial applications for carbon nanotubes include

making sports equipment stronger and lighter. A tennis racket
composed of carbon nanotubes, for example, bends less during
impact, increasing the force and accuracy of delivery. Tennis
balls coated with nanoparticles can bounce twice as long as
regular tennis balls.
7. Many drink bottles are composed of plastics

that contain nano clays, which increase resistance
to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and moisture
permeability. This helps keep the carbonation in
the bottle, and the pressure extends the shelf life
by several months.
8. Nanotechnology allows a wide range of

chemical sensors to be configured to detect a specific chemical
at incredibly low levels, such as a single molecule out of
billions. This capacity is suitable for security and surveillance
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systems in labs, factories, and airports. Nanosensors can also be utilized in medicine to
accurately identify specific cells or chemicals in the body.
Major Impacts of Nanotechnology on Society
Nanotechnology brings a profound impact on different areas of society. It is going to revolutionize

manufacturing, healthcare, energy, supply, communication, and probably defense. There will also be
transformed into labor, the workplace, the medical system, transportation, power infrastructure, and the
military, all of which would have a social disruption.
The advancement of technology has its advantages and disadvantages. The negative impact of
nanotechnology is that it will exacerbate the existing problem in society. Socioeconomics is a concern for
the inequity and unequal distribution of power between the rich and the poor, causing division. The rich who
control the nanotechnologies will gap those whose products, services, and labor are displaced (making
them poor).
Civil liberties will also be affected due to the potential of nanotechnology to destabilize international
relations through nano arms, race, and the increased potential for bio weaponry which provides the tool for
ubiquitous surveillance that will significantly affect civil liberties.
Nanotechnology could also be used in the military to improve soldier performance and manufacture
chemical weapons. Molecular manufacturing could be utilized to build extremely complex and durable
weapons with small computers and motors at a low cost.
Nanotechnology applications may pose a global catastrophic risk that comes from the potential to lead to
war, arms, race, and destructive global government.
There is a likelihood that well-developed countries, as well as "aggressor" countries, may lead to unstable
races based on the following premises:
⮚ Many countries, especially the “aggressive” countries, may be tempted to enter the race since the
threshold for doing so is slow.
⮚ Molecular manufacturing of weapons is cheap and easy to hide.
⮚ Lack of insight into other countries may tempt the players (countries) to launch preemptive strikes.
⮚ Molecular manufacturing may reduce dependency on international trade - a potential peace-
promoting factor
⮚ Since the manufacturing of weapons is cheap and humans are no longer needed on the battlefield,
wars of aggression may pose a smaller economic threat to the aggressor.
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Self-regulation by the state is needed because of the possible risk of nanotechnology in society
and human lives. But achieving this is quite hard at this time since the international structure is difficult to
call upon. It is also hard to coordinate efforts for arms contracts. The United Nations must stop countries
(some are in Asia) that are proud of producing weapons of destruction.
Some countries now have their nano products patented. Over 800 nano-related patents were
already granted in 2013. Carbon nanotubes are currently patented nano products with a wide range of
uses in electronics and computers, and these have replaced conventional raw materials.
Cost and Benefits to Society of Nanotechnology
In other developing countries, nanotechnology has become useful, and it may provide solutions for millions
of people to access safe water, reliable energy, health care, and education. Other benefits include
production using little labor, load, maintenance, high productivity, low cost, and modest requirements for
materials and energy.
Some countries allotted their resources to supporting research and development in nanotechnologies. It
has potential international developments such as improved water purification systems, energy systems,
medicines, pharmaceuticals, food production and nutrition, and information and communication
technologies.
Commodities and poverty are inextricably linked. For employment, government revenue, and export
earnings, many least developed countries are reliant on a few commodities. Many nanotechnology
applications are being developed that may have an impact on world demand for specific commodities.
Certain nanoscale materials, for example, could improve the strength and durability of rubber, thus
reducing the demand for natural rubber. Other nanotechnology uses could lead to a rise in the demand for
specific commodities. For example, demand for titanium increases due to new uses for nanoscale titanium
oxides, such as titanium dioxide nanotubes used to produce and store hydrogen for fuel.

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Its Consequences for Social Justice, Civil Liberties, and the Workplace
In developing countries, producers could also be disadvantaged by replacing natural products (including
rubber, tea, cotton, and coffee) with developments in nanotechnology. These natural products have been
the source of income (livelihood) for many farmers by exporting their crops, and through substitution, with
industrial nanotechnology, it could negatively impact the economies.
Ray Kurzendall speculates on the labor consequences, speculating that workers who rely on unskilled labor
for a living may be the first human workers to be evolved due to regular workplace nanotechnology use.
Every major economic epoch has sparked a global revolution, both in terms of the types of occupations
available to individuals and the types of training they require to obtain these professions. There is a worry
that educational systems around the world are falling behind in educating pupils for the "Nanotech Age."
Nanotechnology may potentially give rise to nano factories, which are thought to have superior capabilities
to conventional factories due to their reduced carbon and physical footprint on the global and regional
environment. The nano factory's ability to deliver a high-quality product may not be hampered by the
miniaturization and transformation of a multi-acre traditional factory into a nano factory; in fact, the product
may be of even greater quality due to the absence of human mistakes throughout the manufacturing
process. Nano factory systems may have precise atomic precision and contribute to making superior
quality products that the "bulk chemistry" method used in the 20th century and early 21st century could not
produce. These advancements might shift the computerized workforce in an even more complex direction,
requiring genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics skills.
List of Advantages and Disadvantages of Nanotechnology
People have different views about nanotechnology, some would see it as beneficial, but some see it
as dangerous. The following are the pros and cons of nanotechnology in general
ADVANTAGES
▪ It transforms a wide range of electrical products, processes, and

applications. Nano transistors, nano diodes, OLED, plasma displays,
quantum computers, and many more sectors benefit from the ongoing
development of nanotechnology in electronic devices.
▪ It also has a positive impact on the energy industry. With this

technology, it will be feasible to create more effective energy-
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producing, energy-absorbing, and energy-storage products in smaller
and more efficient devices. Batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells may all
be manufactured smaller, but with this technology, they can also be
more effective.
Nanotubes, aerogels, nanoparticles, and other related materials will be required by the
manufacturing sector. These materials are often stronger, more durable, and lighter than those
created without nanotechnology.
DISADVANTAGES
▪ Job losses in traditional farming and industrial industries are a possibility.

▪ Oil and diamond prices are falling due to the prospect of creating more efficient
alternative energy sources that do not require the usage of fossil fuels. This
could also imply that because humans can now manufacture goods at the
molecular level, the diamond's value will decline as it becomes more mass-
produced.
▪ Atomic weapons can now be made more easily accessible and more potent and
devastating.
Because these particles are so small, breathing them can cause issues similar to the problems
caused by inhaling minute asbestos particles.
Application
NANO: TRENDS AND APPLICATIONS
Instruction: Discuss using key points the impacts of nanotechnology in various aspects: health, environment,
economy, and ethics. Research on what are the current trends and applications related to each element. Cite
properly, and do not forget to put a reference list following the APA 7 format. Share your stand in relation to the
synthesized researched information from the procured information. Write your answers using the template that can
be seen on the next page. Sharing of answers will be done next learning session.

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Closure
Congratulations on a job well done! You may now proceed to our lesson. Enjoy learning!

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Lesson 12
Gene Therapy (Stem Cells)
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Objectives:
1. Explain gene therapy and the many types of it; and,
2. Evaluate the issue's possible benefits and drawbacks in terms of global health.
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Introduction
In the previous lesson, you learned about the nanoworld, which comprises atoms and
molecules. This lesson will now give light on the advances in the nanoworld as applied to the medical
field and living organisms.
Activity
SHORT RESPONSE ACTIVITY
Gene therapy attempts to cure sickness or increase your body's capacity to fight disease by replacing a
broken gene or adding a new gene. Gene therapy has the potential to cure a wide variety of ailments,
including cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes, hemophilia, and AIDS. Assume you are a doctor
from the movie entitled Train to Busan, who is gifted in providing scientific solutions to certain problems
through gene therapy. Suppositionally, would you accept gene therapy as the only way to avert a zombie
apocalypse if you were the only hope? Write your insights in the space provided found on the next page.

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Analysis
Instruction: Think about these questions, and support your answer in every question limiting to three to five
sentences only.
1. In a real-life setting, would you accept undergoing gene therapy if there was no guarantee of
efficacy and considering its future harmful side effects?
2. Should gene therapy be restricted to medical use solely, or may it be utilized for purely aesthetic
purposes as well?

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Abstraction
Genes are the building blocks of our physical make-up and the basic unit of our inheritance. Our genes are
arranged, one after another, on structures called chromosomes. A chromosome contains a single, long
DNA molecule, only a portion of a single gene.
Humans have approximately 20,000 genes arranged on their chromosomes.
An illustration of a magnified chromosome found in the DNA strand of a gene.
Medical science has identified various human diseases related to defective genes. Unlike other
diseases curable in traditional ways like taking oral medications or surgery, these genetic-related types
of diseases or conditions were more likely impossible to cure until GENE THERAPY was developed.
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is a treatment or prevention strategy that uses genes. In the future, instead of
requiring medications or surgery, doctors may be able to treat an illness by putting a gene into a patient's
cells. Researchers are testing many ways of gene therapy, including:
● Replacing a disease-causing mutant gene with a healthy copy of the gene.

● Inactivating, or "knocking out," a mutant gene that isn't working right.
● Introducing a new gene into the body to aid in the treatment of a condition

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To directly insert new genes into cells, scientists employ a genetically modified “vector” to convey
the gene.
Viruses, for example, can naturally carry genetic material into cells and can thus be utilized as
vectors. A virus's potential to cause infectious disease must be removed before it can be employed to
deliver
An illustration showing
the transfer of a new
gene into the nucleus of
a cell via a viral vector.
Image credit: Genome
Research Limited
therapeutic genes into human cells.

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Types of Gene Therapy
There are two forms of gene therapy, depending on the type of cell being treated:
The transfer of a piece of DNA to any cell in the body that does not produce sperm or eggs is known as
somatic gene therapy. The adverse effects of gene therapy will not be passed down to the patient's
offspring.
Somatic gene therapy can be broadly divided into two types:
⮚ Ex vivo (external): when cells are changed outside of the body before being transplanted back in.
Cells from the patient's blood or bone marrow are extracted and cultured in the laboratory in some
gene therapy clinical trials. A virus expressing the desired gene infects the cells. The virus infects
cells and inserts the desired gene into the DNA of the cells. The cells are grown in the lab before
being injected into a vein and returned to the patient.
⮚ In vivo (interior): The gene is transferred to cells inside the patient's body.
⮚ Germline gene therapy is the process of transferring a segment of DNA to cells that generate eggs
or sperm. Gene therapy's effects will be passed on to the patient's offspring and future generations.
Germline gene therapy appeals because it has the potential to provide a long-term therapeutic
impact for everyone who inherits the target gene. Successful germ line therapies open up the
possibility of eradicating some diseases from a specific family and, eventually, the entire
community. This, however, is fraught with dispute. Some people believe that this kind of therapy is
abnormal and that it involves "playing God." Others are concerned about the technical aspects of
the situation. They are concerned that the genetic mutation caused by germline gene therapy may
be detrimental and dangerous, with unintended consequences for future generations.
Stem Cell Therapy
Cell therapy refers to the transplantation of cells into a patient in order to treat or maybe cure a
condition. The cells' origin is determined by the treatment. The transplanted cells are frequently adult or
fetal stem cells, which can divide and renew to produce cells that grow into the tissue's relevant specialized
cells. Bone marrow transplantation is a frequent type of cell treatment that has been used for over 40 years.

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Many genetic illnesses and certain acquired diseases are being treated with stem cells derived
from umbilical cord blood and other organs. Adult stem cells may not be as good as fetal stem cells
because they divide more and specialize better into the definitive cell type. Fetal liver stem cells, for
example, make considerably more bone than adult liver stem cells.
What is the connection between gene therapy and cell treatment?
Gene and cell therapies have the ability to cure the fundamental cause of both hereditary and acquired
disorders by replacing missing proteins or cells, as well as suppressing the expression of cell-toxic proteins.
Unlike gene therapy, which involves putting genetic material into the right cells, cell therapy involves
transplanting cells to a patient. Gene therapy is the transfer of genetic material, generally in the form of a
carrier or vector, and the incorporation of the gene into the proper cells of the body. The transfer of cells
with the appropriate function into the patient is known as cell therapy.
The loss of tight control over cell division in stem cells is another risk of cell treatment. The transplanted
stem cells could theoretically acquire an advantage in proliferation and advance to cancer or teratomas;
however, this is uncommon in stem cell transplantation and has yet to be shown in fetal stem cell
transplantation.
Patients are highly encouraged to ask their investigators and providers questions until they
completely grasp the hazards associated with each therapy. Stem cells have the ability to improve illness
symptoms for as long as the modified stem cells are alive, potentially for the rest of the patient's life.

administrators.
Ethical Considerations
Gene and stem cell therapies, like many other

emerging therapeutic techniques, involve a number of
challenging and crucial ethical challenges and concerns.
Some are universal to any novel therapy that involves human
testing, while others are specific to the genetic and cellular
processes utilized in gene and stem cell therapies. These
ethical debates will continue to have a significant impact on
the growth and future of these treatments.
Several significant and distinct ethical problems with gene and stem cell therapies have been
presented. For starters, many members of the public are concerned about the perceived and real problems
involved with altering the human genetic composition. Concerns have been raised concerning the features
that should be chosen for genetic alteration. Few people would argue that gene therapy would be a
reasonable treatment for most malignancies if it was safe and effective. Using this technology to alter
height, weight, or memory, on the other hand, is troublesome and contentious.
Concerns over stem cell sources, notably the use of human fetal tissue for stem cell isolation, have
also hindered stem cell treatment. One of the major ethical issues ahead is balancing fetal tissue's
medicinal potential with ethical concerns about abortion and fetal tissue experiments.
Gene and stem cell research has a lot of promise for developing novel treatments for some of the
world's most common ailments. There is still more work to be done before the therapeutic potential of these
approaches is fully appreciated. These treatments, like most medical therapies, can be employed in
reckless and unethical ways, causing harm to patients and society.
As a result, clinical trials of gene and stem cell therapies must be built on a firm foundation of basic
science and animal testing and conducted in accordance with the strictest medical and ethical guidelines.
Equally crucial, rigorous and open ethical arguments based on scientific and medical facts, as well as
prompt and honest communication between physicians, patients, and the general public, are necessary to
achieve the full potential of these therapeutic modalities.
Application
TO AGREE OR TO DISAGREE?
administrators.
Instruction: There will be five (5) different topics featured in this activity. For each topic listed below, you should make
your stand, whether you agree or disagree, and kindly support your answer. In supporting your perspective, please
do it using bullet points only, not in a paragraph way. You can also research the different studies conducted related to
each topic in order to enrich your discussion. In the next learning session, your STS teacher will identify students with
the same views on each topic. After identification, the teacher will group the students; each group will prepare critical
points for the class discussion. After which, the entire class will have a debate.
Topic of Interest Stand and Supporting Answer

Consumption of vitamin A
genetically modified rice
The practice of faster maturation of

Salmo salar through an injection of
growth hormone
Use of genetically modified milk for

human baby consumption
Creation of laboratory animals that

mirrors the human condition just for
research
Enhancement of basic human traits

with the use of gene therapy
Closure
Good job, learner! You have just finished lesson 11

administrators.
Course Assessment Sample
SET A.
TEST I: TRUE OR FALSE.
Read and understand each statement below. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if
the statement is incorrect.
1. There is no individual that can exactly identify when and where science began as it is always
interwoven with society.
2. Science is an idea that includes theories and all available systematic explanations and
observations about the natural and mental world.
3. Science is an intellectual activity that involves processes in a systematic and practical study of
the natural and physical world.
4. Science is a personal and social activity that explains human beings develop a better
understanding of the world as it means to improve life and survive in life.
5. Human beings developed noble ideas known as philosophy to provide alternative or possible
explanations to a phenomenon.
6. Scientific revolution was the period of enlightenment when the development of different
disciplines transformed the views of society about nature.
7. Scientific revolution allows intellectuals to reflect, rethink, and re-examine their beliefs and their
way of life.
administrators.
8. It is normal for a scientist to satisfy his curiosity about the natural and physical world.
9. Scientific revolution is insignificant in the development of human beings, the transformation of
society, and the formulation of superstitious ideas.
10. During the scientific revolution, some scientists were sentenced to death and were condemned
by the church.
TEST II: IDENTIFICATION.
Identify the Proponent for (A) and Civilization for (B) in every statement. Choose the letter of the
correct in the table and write it in the space provided before the number.
0. Scientific Revolutionary Intellectuals
A Nicolaus Copernicus B Charles Darwin C Sigmund Freud
11. Objectively negated the geocentric model and did a thought experiment on the heliocentric
model.
12. Joined a five-year voyage through the HSM Beagle on the Islands of Galapagos.
13. Introduced the idea of all organic life, including human beings, under the realm of evolutionary
thinking.
14. Established the method of psychoanalysis, which greatly impacted the scientific way of
understanding human nature.
15. His method is considered as unorthodox that focusing on human sexuality and the evil nature
of man.
B. Development of Science of Mesoamerica
A Maya Civilization B Inca Civilization C Aztec Civilization
16. Incorporated their understanding of astronomy into their temples and other religious structures.
17. Used stone buildings that surmounted earthquakes and other calamities.
18. Believed that their textile was unique since cloth was one of their prized artistic achievements.
19. Gave mandatory education to all regardless of their social class, gender, or age.
20. Built looms for weaving cloth and devised glittery rainbow paints made from mica mineral.
21. Used antispasmodic medication that could prevent muscle spasms and relax muscles.
administrators.
22. Introduced quipu, a system of knotted ropes that kept records that only an expert could
interpret.
23. Formed a technology for agricultural farming in which lands were divided into rectangular
areas and surrounded by a canal.
24. Had irrigation system and technique for storing water for their crops to grow on all types of
land.
25. Invented a canoe, a light and narrow boat used for traveling in water systems.
TEST III: MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Choose the correct answer and write the letter of your answer in the space provided before each
number.
____ 1. Which of the following is not an area of research that the Philippines is looking forward to
embarking on?
0. Use of alternative and safe energy c. Infrastructure development
a. Harnessing mineral resources d. War on drugs
____ 2. Which of the following is not a basis for indigenous science in the Philippines?
a. Science Process Skills c. Exposure to Foreign Trade
b. Community Culture and Values d. Traditional Knowledge
____ 3. To what university will you visit if you want to experience a science paradise for agriculture,
forestry, plant and animal science, and veterinary science?
a. De La Salle University c. University of Santo Tomas
b. Ateneo de Manila University d. University of the Philippines-Los Baños
____ 4. Which is a service institute of the Department of Science and Technology whose mandate is to
offer a scholarship basis for the second course with special emphasis on subjects pertaining to the
sciences, with the end-view of preparing its students for a science career?
a. University of the Philippines-Los Baños c. Special Science Elem Schools Project
b. Philippine Science High School System d. Manila Science High School
____ 5. Which of the following is not included in the clustered policies recommended by the National
Research Council of the Philippines?
a. Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and Forestry
b. Physics, Engineering and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and Mathematics

administrators.
c. Medical, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
d. Psychological and Social Services Research
TEST IV: SUMMARIZATION.

Summarize the development of Science and Technology in various places of the world and how
these developments affect the quality of living of each civilization. Follow the rubrics below for evaluation.
Very Satisfactory Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Very Unsatisfactory

4 3 2 1
The summary is correct and The summary is The summary is The summary is
comprehensive in manner. correct, and the somehow correct, but incorrect, and the
The ideas are well ideas are the ideas are not ideas are not
organized. organized. organized. organized.
Cleanliness of the summary: 1 Point
0. Development of Science and Technology in India
B. Development of Science and Technology in China
C. Development of Science and Technology in the Middle East
D. Development of Science and Technology in Africa
E. Development of Science and Technology in the Philippines

administrators.
TEST V: ESSAY.
Read and analyze the question below. Write your answer following this rubric for evaluation:
The analysis is correct and comprehensive, and the ideas are 4

organized.
The analysis is correct, and the ideas are organized. 3
The analysis is correct, but the ideas are not organized. 2
The analysis is incorrect, and the ideas are not organized. 1
Cleanliness of the answer 1
How does colonization in the Philippines contribute to the development of Science and Technology
in the country?
SET B.
TEST I: IDENTIFICATION.
Identify the Filipino Scientist in the table described in every item. Write the letter in the space
provided before the number.
a. Benito S. Vergara b. Evelyn Mae T. Mendoza c. Angel C. Alcala

d. Migs Canilao e. Bienvenido O. Juliano f. Baldomero Olveria Jr.
g. Julius Sempio h. Benjamin D. Cabrera i. Eduardo Quisumbing
j. Milagrosa R. k. Reynaldo A. Tabada l. Prescillano M. Zamora
administrators.
Martinez
m. Kamela Ng n. Irene Crisologo o. Pedro D. Escuro
1. He is a Filipino botanist who contributed greatly to the understanding of medicinal plants such
as orchids.
2. He is one of the developers of Diwata 1, which is also known as PHL- Microsat-1, used in
mapping, monitoring, and detecting changes in land features.
3. She is a molecular epidemiologist focusing on the early detection of drug resistant-tuberculosis
transmission.
4. She is a Filipino radar meteorologist working on an open-source method for processing weather
radar data.
5. His expertise involves analyzing old artifacts and tracking ancient gold trading trails and
settlements in Northwestern Luzon.
6. A Filipino marine biologist worked for the conservation of tropical marine resources and also
invented artificial coral reefs.
7. He conducted research in the field of molecular biology and biochemistry, which isolated key
DNA enzymes.
8. He is an expert on the flowering response of rice to photoperiodism and physiology, leading to
rice tolerance to flooding and cold temperatures.
9. His work focus on assessing the environmental impact of pollutants from thermal power plants
that use coal.
10. He spent much of his life improving the grain quality of rice, making it more economical and
more nutritious.
TEST II: TRUE OR FALSE.
Read and understand each sentence below. Write true if the sentence is correct, and write false if it
is incorrect.
1. Unconscious mind contains repressed urges, thoughts, memories, and wishes which are
disturbing and threatening.
2. Ego is represented by sexual urges which act according to laws and morals and thus are
bounded by the limits of reality.
3. Conscious mind is based solely on pleasures and desires that are usually in conflict with
society.
4. Superego strives for imperfections. It is always to be good and honorable.

administrators.
5. Development of science and technology in the Philippines is influenced by foreign colonizers as
well as trading with other foreign countries.
6. Mayans incorporated their advanced understanding of astronomy into their temples and other
religious structures.
7. Aztec civilization used a type of antispasmodic medication that could prevent muscle spasms
and relax muscles.
8. Cultivation of human resources in the fields of science and technology is one of the strategic
areas of the Department of Science and Technology.
9. Lack of technology is the principal reason for the gap between the first and third worlds.
10. Human flourishing is an effort to achieve self-actualization and self-fulfillment.
TEST III: VENN DIAGRAM.
5 - Excellent 4-Very good 3 - Good 2 - Fair 1. Poor

Complete Substantial Provided Minimal Poor information
information on the information on the information related information on the on similarities and
similarities and similarities and to the concepts similarities and differences were
differences was differences was and the similarities differences was provided with faulty
provided with an provided with an and differences provided with explanation.
in-depth explanation. with limited faulty
explanation. explanation. explanations.
Compare and contrast the following concepts below.
GEOCENTRISM HELIOCENTRISM

administrators.
THEORY OF CREATION THEORY OF EVOLUTION
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations!!!

administrators.
You have just completed your journey towards understanding and building skills in science and technology.
Now you are one step closer to your dream of becoming an active participant and making a difference in
society.

administrators.

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1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

Lesson 11: The Nano World 78

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

Module I General Ideas and Historic Developments

Module II Science and Technology and the Human Situation

Module III Future and Natural Environment

Module IV Developments and Issues in Science and Technology

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

Course Code: Sci Tech 101 Units: 3 units

Course Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

Quizzes, Assignment, Outputs 50%

Midterm Exam 25%

Tentative Final Grade

Midterm Grade + Tentative Final Grade

1. Students have the option to take this course online or offline.

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

What are the Functions of Genetically Modified Organisms?

GMOs come in a variety of forms.

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

Other businesses are working on creating genetically engineered animals. AquaBounty

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are widely used

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Criticisms

Impact on the Environment

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

What is a Nanoscale, and how small is it?

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

Ways on How Nanotechnology impacts human lives

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

5. Water Nano-sized particles, including practically all viruses

6. Commercial applications for carbon nanotubes include

7. Many drink bottles are composed of plastics

8. Nanotechnology allows a wide range of

Major Impacts of Nanotechnology on Society

Nanotechnology brings a profound impact on different areas of society. It is going to revolutionize

Cost and Benefits to Society of Nanotechnology

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

List of Advantages and Disadvantages of Nanotechnology

▪ It transforms a wide range of electrical products, processes, and

▪ It also has a positive impact on the energy industry. With this

▪ Job losses in traditional farming and industrial industries are a possibility.

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

1. Explain gene therapy and the many types of it; and,

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

Humans have approximately 20,000 genes arranged on their chromosomes.

An illustration of a magnified chromosome found in the DNA strand of a gene.

● Replacing a disease-causing mutant gene with a healthy copy of the gene.

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

therapeutic genes into human cells.

1| Page Course Pack in Science Technology and Society

Somatic gene therapy can be broadly divided into two types: