MODULE 11 LESSON PROPER
BIODIVERSITY AND GENETICALLY MODIFIED
ORGANISMS
The term “biodiversity” is a contraction of
“biological diversity” or “biotic diversity”. These terms all
refer to the idea of living variation, from genes and traits,
to species, and to ecosystems.
Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you’ll
find in one area—the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and
even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our
natural world. Each of these species and organisms work
together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain
balance and support life. Biodiversity supports everything
in nature that we need to survive: food, clean water,
medicine, and shelter.
1. Genetic Diversity
It is basically the variety of species expressed at
the genetic level by each individual in a species. No two
individuals belonging to the same species are exactly
similar. For example, in the species of human beings, each
human shows a lot of diversity in comparison to
another human. People living in different regions show a
great level of variation.
2. Species Diversity result of human population needs for energy and
the use of fossil fuels.
It is the biodiversity observed within a community. It
stands for the number and distribution of species. The Pollution: Air pollution can reduce the ability of
number of species in a region varies widely depending ecosystems to provide services like carbon
upon the varied environmental conditions. For example, it sequestration and water purification. Soil pollution
is usually observed that civilizations residing beside water is a threat to biodiversity, crop production, and
bodies show more species than the one compared to the human health.
areas away from water bodies. Overexploitation: A major driver of biodiversity
3. Ecological diversity loss, especially on oceanic islands.
It defines the diversity observed among the Infectious diseases: Environmental conditions
ecosystems in a particular region. Different ecosystems can dictate the success of pathogen spread.
like mangroves, rainforests, deserts, etc., show a great
variety of life forms residing in them.
Biodiversity is threatened by many factors, including:
Biodiversity and Human Health
Habitat loss: The destruction of a species' habitat,
which can lead to extinction. Human population
Natural environments and frequent contact with
growth and resource use are major causes of
nature have beneficial effects on human health and well-
habitat loss.
being. The physical and mental health benefits
Invasive species: These species can be harmful associated with the interaction with natural and human-
to agriculture and ranching, and can destroy man- made green environments depend, in the first place, on
made structures. the duration and timing of the exposure.
Climate change: A major threat to biodiversity
a. Short-term exposure to forests, urban parks,
and ecosystem functions. Climate change is a
gardens, and other (semi-) natural environments
reduces stress and depressive symptoms,
restores attention fatigue, increases self-reported important in urban settings. Here, we review the evidence
positive emotions, and improves self-esteem, for effects of actual biodiversity for the three main
mood, and perceived mental and physical health. mechanisms that link biodiversity in nature and green
Access to natural environments also tends to spaces to human health and well-being: the ‘biophilia
enhance outdoor physical activity, thereby hypothesis,’ the ‘biodiversity hypothesis’ and the ‘dilution
improving physical health, for instance, by effect hypothesis.’
reducing obesity and type 2 diabetes prevalence.
a. Biophilia Hypothesis
b. Long-term exposure to natural environments,
such as residing in areas with high greenness or The ‘biophilia hypothesis’ proposes that humans
diverse landscapes, has been associated with have an intrinsic affinity to other species and nature
reduced all-cause, respiratory, cardiovascular, and because the interaction with the natural environment
cancer mortality and improved respiratory and drove the evolution of our species. Under the biophilia
mental health. The effects of ‘chronic’ exposure to hypothesis, people are expected to select biologically
green spaces have been investigated over varying diverse environments and derive mental benefits from
spatial scales. Positive effects of green spaces exposure to green space. Biophilia studies are often
have been demonstrated over distances ranging framed in ‘stress ‘recovery theory’ (natural environments
between 150mand5km. facilitate the recovery from physiological stress) and
‘attention restoration theory’ (natural environments
The short- and long-term benefits that natural and facilitate the recovery from mental fatigue and assist the
human-made green spaces provide, in terms of human restoration of directed attention).
health, can be classified as ‘ecosystem services.’
Ecosystem services are ‘the ecological characteristics, b. Biodiversity Hypothesis
functions or processes that directly or indirectly contribute
to human well-being, i.e., the benefits people derive from The ‘biodiversity hypothesis’ proposes that
functioning ecosystems.’ exposure to biodiversity improves the immune system by
regulating the species composition of the human
Diverse systems have also been shown to be microbiome. Under this hypothesis, exposure to
more resilient in the face of natural and anthropogenic beneficial environmental microbiota reduces the
disturbances (‘ecological resilience theory’), which is prevalence of allergies, asthma, and other chronic
inflammatory diseases. The related ‘hygiene hypothesis’ disease caused by bacteria of the Borrelia genus.
and ‘microflora hypothesis’ state that reduced early-life Syntheses of the available evidence reported in the
exposure to parasites and environmental bacteria is literature on the complex ecology of Lyme disease have
associated with an increased risk to develop allergic yielded opposing conclusions. Some authors conclude
diseases, asthma, and other hypersensitivity disorders that biodiversity strongly reduces the human risk of Lyme
because it has detrimental effects on the development of disease and others suggest that Lyme disease risk
human (intestinal) microbiome (dysbiosis) and the infant increases with biodiversity. As a result, the relationship
immune system (for a review on the health effects of between biodiversity and the human risk of Lyme disease
commensal microbiota and parasitic helminths, which are remains fiercely debated. Here, we look for evidence of
beyond the scope of this review, see e.g., the work done biodiversity effects on human health beyond Lyme
by Stiemsma et al.). disease. We focused our review on whether biodiverse
green environments are more beneficial for promoting
c. Dilution Effect Hypothesis human health than less biodiverse green environments.
The ‘dilution effect hypothesis’ proposes that high
vertebrate species richness reduces the risk of infectious
diseases of humans because pathogens are ‘diluted’
GMO (short for “genetically modified organism”) is a
among a high number of animal reservoir species that
plant, animal or microbe in which one or more changes
differ in their capacity to infect invertebrate vector
have been made to the genome, typically using high-tech
species. Under the dilution effect hypothesis,
genetic engineering, in an attempt to alter the
transmission and burden of infectious diseases are
characteristics of an organism. Genes can be introduced,
expected to be lower in animal species-rich natural
enhanced or deleted within a species, across species or
environments because the prevalence of infected vectors
even across kingdoms. GMOs may be used for a variety
is lower, despite expected higher pathogen richness and
of purposes, such as making human insulin, producing
elevated risks of pathogen spillover from those various
fermented beverages and developing pesticide
hosts to humans.
resistance in crop plants.
Much of the earlier work on the effects of
environmental biodiversity on human health has focused
on Lyme disease (borreliosis), a tick-borne infectious
Uses of Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) 7. Iron deficiency: GMO rice can help combat iron
deficiency by binding iron and digesting compounds that
inhibit iron absorption.
1. Agriculture: GMOs can help with crop yields, pest and
disease resistance, and nutritional value:
Herbicide resistance: Some GMOs are
resistant to herbicides, which can reduce Benefits of GMO
the need for pesticides. The first genetically modified plants were introduced
Pest resistance: GMOs can repel specific in the mid-1990s for human consumption. Today, 90
types of insects. percent of crops such as corn, sugar beets, and
soybeans on the market are GMOs. In Canada, GMO
Nutritional value: GMOs can be more foods include canola, corn, potatoes, soybeans, sugar
nutritious, such as golden rice. beets, and alfalfa. There are many benefits to GMO food
2. Medicine and vaccines: GMOs can produce more production, including:
consistent medicines and vaccines that are less Genetically modified crops can raise higher yields
contaminated. They can also be used to treat diseases and are more resistant to pests and diseases
like sickle cell anemia. which is a good thing for farmers because they
3. Food security: GMOs can help increase food won’t have to buy many pesticides to grow a high
security. supply of quality food.
GMO crops also have a longer shelf life along with
4. Animal feed: GMO cottonseed meal and hulls are
higher yields which is a good thing for consumers
used in animal feed.
because that will lead to lower prices on food for
5. Living sensors: Genetically engineered them.
microorganisms can detect chemicals in soil, air, and GMO crops taste better and are more nutritious.
other samples. GMO potatoes also get more desirable traits such
6. Malaria-resistant mosquitoes: Genetically modified as producing fewer cancer-causing substances
mosquitoes can be used to reduce the transmission of when they are fried.
malaria.
commercial propagation until all legal requirements are
met, and prohibits applications for contained use, field
Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant Battle Court Order in testing, or importation of GM products until compliance is
the Philippines established.
Writ of Kalikasan
The Philippine population is projected to reach
157,891,622 by mid-2050, causing a rise in food demand. The Writ of Kalikasan is a unique legal remedy
However, food production is expected to decline, under Philippine law that protects the constitutional right
potentially leading to food shortages. Scientists have to a balanced and healthful ecology, as outlined in the
developed genetically modified (GM) crops to improve 1987 Philippine Constitution. It was issued in 2010 and
food production, such as Golden Rice and Bt eggplant. has been used against environmental protection and
Golden Rice, genetically engineered to produce beta- mining operations in the Philippines. The Writ of
carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, could combat vitamin Kalikasan has been issued against various entities,
A deficiency, a major public health problem in Southeast including the DENR, Mines and Geosciences Bureau,
Asia. and Altai Philippines Mining Corporation, in response to
petitions for protection of the Sibuyan Island ecosystem
Bt eggplant, a genetically modified eggplant and local livelihoods. The Writ of Kalikasan was first
developed by the University of the Philippines Los Baños, issued against a crop in 2013, banning field trials of Bt
is a potential solution to eggplant fruit and shoot borer, a eggplant, and again in 2024, banning the production and
major insect pest in the Philippines. It is expected to commercial activity of Bt eggplant and Golden Rice.
reduce yield losses and increase farmers' income by
192%. However, the Philippine Supreme Court has UPLB and PhilRice issue statements on the CA
granted a Writ of Kalikasan to stop the commercial Ruling
release of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant. The court has
ordered UPLB to cease commercial propagation of Bt UPLB and PhilRice have issued statements on the
eggplant, revoked the Biosafety Permit for Commercial CA Decision on Bt eggplant, stating that the University
Propagation of Golden Rice, and ordered PhilRice to has not revoked its Biosafety Permit for Commercial
cease commercial activities. The decision also enjoins Propagation and has consistently complied with
government standards. PhilRice also acknowledges the
Appellate Court's Decision and is reviewing the
implications to prepare their response to the CA Decision.
References:
GM products receive support from academe,
scientists, and media practitioners Biodiversity (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).
(2021, February
4). https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/biodiversity/
The National Academy of Science and Technology
(NAST) and the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in
the Philippines (CAMP) have criticized the California
Agricultural Act (CAA) decision on genetically modified
crops (GM crops). NAST claims that the decision
prioritizes ideology over scientific evidence, discourages Types of biodiversity: genetic, species, ecological, videos
innovation, and delays solutions to hunger and poverty. and examples. (2019, December 9). Toppr-
CAMP calls the decision a "war of attrition" for Filipino guides. https://www.toppr.com/guides/biology/biodi
farmers and consumers, arguing that it relies on ideology versity-and-conservation/types-of-biodiversity/
and misinterprets the concept of a balanced and healthful
ecology. The Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines Libretexts. (2022, September 5). 10: Threats to
(BCP) calls for a balanced, responsible, science-based biodiversity. Biology
approach to decision-making, urging the Court of Appeals LibreTexts. https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/E
to reconsider its decision and support responsible cology/Environmental_Science_(Ha_and_Schleige
development and adoption of agricultural biotechnology. r)/03%3A_Conservation/
3.02%3A_Threats_to_Biodiversity
GM crops to help feed the world’s future population
Genetically modified organism (GMO). (n.d.).
GM crops have been commercially propagated Genome.gov. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-
since 1996, with 29 countries, including the Philippines, glossary/Genetically-Modified-
planting 190.4 million hectares in 2019. Gene editing Organism#:~:text=Definition&text=GMO%20(short
offers potential for poverty alleviation by increasing crop %20for%20%E2%80%9Cgenetically
yields and improving nutritional value. Safeguarding food %20modified,pesticide%20resistance%20in
security and nutrition is crucial, and responsible %20crop%20plants.
implementation of these technologies will contribute to a
future where everyone has access to adequate and
nutritious food.
Admin, & Admin. (2022, December 16). GMO Benefits
and Potential Dangers - Youth in food
systems. Youth in Food Systems - Engaging
Youth in Food
Exploration. https://seeds.ca/schoolfoodgardens/g
mo-benefits-and-potential-dangers/#:~:text=GMOs
%20are%20%E2%80%9CGenetically%20Modified
%20Organisms%E2%80%9D%2C%20containing
%20DNA,and%20crops%20which%20have
%20been%20genetically%20modified.
