1. Grade 8 Science and Technology
How Does Biotechnology Affect Individuals, Society, and the Environment?
Grade 8 Science and Technology

2. What is Biotechnology?
Some Ideas?
Some examples?

3. What is Biotechnology?
In its most simple form, biotechnology is the use of living systems (organisms) by people to make products.
Biotechnology uses many different sciences, such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computers, and information technology to develop tools and products.
Biotechnology changes genes of organisms for specific purposes.

4. What are some common examples of biotechnology use?
Pollution-eating microbes (oil spills)
Laundry detergents and dish soaps
DNA finger-printing
Bio-pesticides for crops
Vaccines for illnesses and diseases
Genetically Modified Foods like cheese
These are just to name a few!

5. So... How Can or Does Biotechnology Affect us as Individuals?

6. What does it mean? Biotechnology affects our everyday lives!
It provides medicine, and can detect and treat diseases
Diabetes, sickle-cell anemia, antibiotics, etc.
It has and continues to change what we are able to eat
Baking bread, making cheese, etc.
BRING IN CORN PRODUCTS (anything with high fructose corn syrup) – especially things students like like candy!

7. SAMPLE: Biotechnology of Corn
Scientists have successfully been able to change the genes of corn for more desirable traits
Biotech (Bt) corn may be insect protected (no need for pesticides), herbicide-resistant, or both
Another type of corn is able to grow in times of drought (no or low rain seasons)
As well, corn has been engineered to contain more healthy ingredients

8. How does corn affect us as individuals?
PROS
CONS
Many products we rely on contain a corn base (high fructose corn syrup) such as fast food, batteries, candy, pop, cereal, etc.
Genetically modified corn adding nutrition and medicines both increase quality of, and help to prolong, human life – especially in third world countries
High fructose corn syrup, made from corn, is linked to diabetes in kids and other health risks
For those who have or may develop an allergy for corn or corn products, will have a very short list of foods they can eat!
Some genetically modified corn have led to signs of organ damage in rats...

10. How can or does biotechnology affect our society?

11. What does it mean? It changes the quality of life in our world! Pros
Industrial Biotechnology can help generate a new “greener” economy with countless new jobs.  
May solve world food shortage (agriculture and livestock)
Helps with discovery of new medicines
Solving crimes with DNA and forensic testing
Cons
There are safety and ethical debates
How far do we draw the line?
“Perfect” babies and cloning
Accidental immunity of pests, weeds, viruses, and bacteria
Engineering even more foods
Biological warfare
It changes the quality of life in our world!

12. How does corn affect our society?
When compared to original unchanged corn, the amount of biotech corn being able to be produced is much higher.
This is important for farming economies, like Canada, which therefore is able to feed more people while also requiring less work and time overall.

13. How does biotechnology affect the environment?

14. What does that mean? Public Environment Natural/Physical Environment
We will have the ability to find ways to use our garbage to create new needed products.
Agricultural biotechnology will help us to use our lands more efficiently (no loss of crops and money)
By 2030, the WWF estimates that biotechnology “has the potential to save the planet up to 2.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions per year.”
Biotechnology will aid in the removal of pollution from our soils, water, and air

15. Advantages of Biotechnology
Are all of these biotechnology solutions safe?
As we move towards a greener society, biotechnology is the leading force to help us solve problems that we, as humans, were responsible for creating.
We are able to understand the world that we live in on a microscopic level.
We can solve a lot of world issues such as malnutrition, world hunger, pollution, and death with biotechnology innovations

16. Why or How is Corn Biotechnology Good?
“Corn production bills” from FOOD INC.
May solve declining oil issue and provide us with new energy form
Third world countries especially prone to insect infestation, nutrition deficits, and drought no longer have to worry

17. Disadvantages to Biotechnology
Are we planting new problems that may haunt us in the future?
Unknown/unintended harm to environment
Food Labelling and consumer choice
Dependency
Cost
There may be unknown or unintended harm posed to other organisms when exposed to the public and natural environment (food webs)
Only some countries demand mandatory GM food labelling, which does not provide consumers with accurate information when they go food shopping
As the industry becomes more sophisticated and complex, the costs of using these products will rise
Once we are dependent on biotechnology, what other choices will we have?

18. Why or How is Corn Biotechnology Bad?
Insects may become immune to pest-tolerant Bt corn and become more harmful (already seen in mosquitoes) as well as creating `superweeds`

19. References
Biotechnology Institute, 2005, “What is Biotechnology” <
Monsanto Company, 2001, “Biotech Basics” <
Gewin, Virginia. “Genetically Modified Corn – Environmental Benefits and Risks” October 13, Public Library of Science <