Genetically Modified Organisms

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

What are GMOs?

Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale. Increasingly, Americans are taking matters into their own hands and choosing to opt out of the GMO experiment.

Are GMOs safe?

AdvantagesIt prolongs the shelf

life of food.Better tasting foodFaster growthHigher crop yieldsBacteria and insect

cannot easily penetrate the food.

Food allergyIncreased toxicityDecreased

nutritional valueHarms other

organismsAntibiotic resistance

Boon or Bane?

Disadvantages

Verifying only high-risk products puts a heavy burden on consumers to know what products are at risk of containing GMOs. 

Through verifying low-risk products, the Non-GMO Project’s work builds consumer interest and industry investment in Non-GMO, even for crops that aren’t genetically engineered yet.

More on GMO

ECOLOGY

The term “ecology” was coined by the German zoologist, Ernst Haeckel, in 1866 to describe the “economies” of living forms. The word ECOLOGY comes from Greek words “oikos” which means house and “logy” meaning “the study of” meaning “study of the house”. Ecology is the study of the “household” of living things: their neighbors and neighborhood. 

. Ecology is essential in providing the information on how the world works. It also provides facts on the interdependence between the natural world and people.

What is Ecology?

Organismal /physiological/ behavioral ecology-It focuses on how the living organisms (animal

and plants) react to biotic and abiotic factors in their environment; physiology, morphology and behavior.

Population ecology-It deals with studies of structure and dynamics

of populations. That is; factors that affect population and how and why a population varies over time.

4 types of Ecology

Community Ecology-This deals with the interactions between organisms

that is, the feeding relationships among species, or who helps who, who competes with whom and for what resources and how those interactions affect community structure (the organization of a biological community with respect to ecological interactions).

Ecosystem Ecology-Is a community of living organism that is, animals,

plants and microbes together with abiotic components of their environment.

4 types of Ecology

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

Scientific studies reveal that human activities have contributed significantly to the increase of environmental issues and problems.

Cases

A medical laboratory that formulates and makes medicines for deadly illnesses dispose chemicals in a river. resulting from this, the living organisms especially the fishes are leaving the river making the livelihood of the community in danger. As a citizen are you willing to stop the activities of the laboratory?

Case 1

No, because of the Principle of DOUBLE EFFECTSOnly the good effect (to create medicines) and not

the bad (drive the fishes away) is the sole intention of the act;

There is a proportionate reason for placing the action and permitting the bad effect, which is to create medicines for the sick.

Yes, because it contradicts the principle of STEWARDSHIPWe are stewards and we need to take care of God’s

creations;Respect for life; It falls under the fallacy of technologies.

Application

A pig was combined with human genes to make the transplantation of pig’s organs or genes to human possible. Also, a gene that would tell the pig with human genes was also injected and it made the pig’s eyes to be fluorescent. Scientist believed that the success of creating a mutated pig would provide organs to more patients who are in need and help to make medicines for certain diseases. However, the environmental organizations stated that it is the abuse of animal and also against the flow of nature. Moreover, patients who had a successful transplantation of pig’s gene to kill the disease inside the body did not have any positive effects at all. What should you do?

Case 2

The act should be stopped because:PRINCIPLE OF STEWARDSHIP

We must take care of God’s creations and since it does not have any possible effects it must be stopped;

Falls under the fallacy of technologies.PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECT

There should be TWO EFFECTS: good and bad;The good effect is not produced by means of the bad

effect;Only the good is intended and not the bad effect.

PRINCIPLE OF EPIKEIADoes not set aside what is just in itself, but just in the

law established; since the act itself violates the laws for animal rights.

Application

In the year 2050, the supply of food is diminishing, especially meat products. GMO is now highly developed and in this crisis, it is in great demand. If you are a consumer, are you willing to buy products that resulted from GMO's?

Case 3

Yes, because of the PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECTBecause the good (for the people to have

food to eat), and not the bad (making use of GMO) is directly intended

There is a proportionate reason for doing the action and permitting the bad effect; in order for the people to have enough food in the midst of crisis, GMO is permitted.

Application

Mining companies throw their wastes in the river, causing the death the fishes in the river and also putting the lives of the citizens in danger. Are you going to have a petition for it to be stopped?

Case 4

Yes, because of the following principles:PRINCIPLE OF PREFERENCE

The health and the rights of the people are far more important than the mining companies’ waste disposal issues,

PRINCIPLE OF STEWARDSHIPThe gift of human life, as well as the

natural environment, should be treated with respect and utter care.

Application

A farmer raised thousands of chickens in his farm and sold them to the market. A common chicken takes more than 5months to be a fully grown chicken. The farmer wanted to reduce the time and sell more chickens. Hence, he adopted the methods that other farmers were using to raise their chickens fasther through the injection with certain genes that fastens the growing period. As a result, the chickens in his farm started to fully grow only in 2months. It looked physically same as natural chicken. However, soon the consumers who ate his chickens started to experience symptoms like allergy and stomaches. What should you do?

Case 5

The farmer must stop due to the following principles that it violates:Principle of STEWARDSHIP

Life is given by God and therefore should be given importance and care.

Principle of PREFERENCESince human life is already at stake, it is

better not to continue using GMO.Principle of DOUBLE EFFECT

The consequences of using GMO are risky for humans to eat.

Application

A scientist created a corn that can grow faster and contains more nutritions than a usual corn and have a function of pesticides in itself. Soon, seeds of the corn were distributed to the farmers and sold to consumers. After several months, the farmers found out that the corns were killing not only farmful insects but also microorganisms and insects that live in the land and give nutrition to the soil. The soils around the places became useless and even got weaker.

Case 6

The scientist should stop producing the modified corn due to the following principles that it violates:Principle of STEWARDSHIP

Life of the organisms are at stakeDestroys biodiversityFallacy of Technological Imperative

Principle of DOUBLE EFFECTThe good is being sacrificed

Application

http://fmicrofarm.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120720-073643.jpg

http://bootcampnews.net/2012/09/26/ http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/ http://www.bt.ucsd.edu/gmo.html http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-

organisms-gmos-transgenic-crops-and-732 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ecology/ http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/ecology/ecoindex.html http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecology http://eco-globe.com/types-of-ecology/ http://www.lenntech.com/environmental-problems.htm

Sources:

Andrade, Sophia MayeBaluyot, Anna PamelaDeuna, Ina FrancescaLee, SujeongLustñas, BridgettePerez, Nicole AnneTacujan, Niña Salve

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