Earth and Life Science

Quarter 2 – Module 25:

Benefits of Genetically Modified
Organisms
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master
the nature of Earth and Life Science. The scope of this module permits it to be used
in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse
vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be changed to
correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module has one lesson:

 Lesson 1 – Benefits of Genetic Engineering

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. classify the situation given as a benefit or risk in using GMO
2. express one’s perception in the use of GMO

What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. What do you call the technique wherein there is the transfer of genes from one
organism to another?
A. cloning C. inbreeding
B. genetic engineering D. selective breeding
2. What is the other term for genetically modified organism?
A. genetically spliced organism C. both a and b
B. transgenic organism D. none of a and b
3. What do you call the process of genetic engineering that is aimed for improving
health conditions in producing vaccines?
A. cloning C. recombinant DNA technology
B. gene splicing D. selective breeding
4. What is the term used for the ethical implications and applications of genetic
engineering?
A. bioethics C. biogenesis
B. biogenetics D. biosynthesis
5. What do you call the hybrid of tiger and lion?
A. gerlion C. lioner
B. liger D. tilion
 6. What do you call the transgenic organism that is injected with scorpion venom
aimed to kill caterpillars?
A. venomous cabbage C. venomous cotton
B. venomous corn D. venomous soy
7. What do you call the transgenic organism that contained human protein per
liter of milk and found to be more nutritionally balance?
A. transgenic cow C. transgenic spider
B. transgenic goat D. transgenic scorpion
8. What transgenic organism can produce a fluorescent protein in its fur?
A. luminous cat C. luminous goat
B. luminous cow D. luminous spider
For numbers 9-15, refer to the following choices.

A. Statement I is correct
B. Statement II is correct
C. Statement I and II are correct
D. Statement I and II are incorrect
______9. I. Genetically modified plants have created resistance to harmful
agents, enhanced product yield, and shown increased adaptability
for better survival
II. Recombinant DNA technology has applications in various area
like medicine focusing on the discoveries of medicine to cure and
improve human health and nutrition
_____10. I. Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are products of
recombinant DNA technology
II. Translated organisms are other term for genetically modified
organisms
______11. I. Corn Resistance to insect pests, specifically the European corn
borer, through expression of the insecticidal protein Cry1Ab
from Bacillus thuringiensis
II. Vaccines in Maize Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)
produced in transgenic maize induces immune response when
injected into mice.
______12. I. Synthesis of synthetic human hemoglobin and erythropoietin by
genetically modified bacteria
II. Human growth hormone which cure blood clotting among
arteries
______13. I. Human clotting factors have also been produced in the milk of
transgenic cows
II. “Pharm” animals were produced to synthesize pharmaceutical
products
______14. I. Crops like potato, tomato, soybean and rice are currently being
genetically engineered to obtain new strains with better nutritional
qualities and increased yield.
II. Angus cows give enhanced milk that can produce silk stronger
than steel
______15. I. Eherichia coli has injected human gene to produce hormone
insulin.
II. Liger is hybrid of tiger and lion.
 Lesson
Benefits of Genetic
1 Engineering
As defined Genetic engineering is the processes of changing the DNA in living
organisms to create something new. It involves artificial manipulation, modification,
and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules in order to modify an
organism or population of organisms.

Recombinant DNA technology has applications various area like medicine focusing
on the discoveries of medicine to cure and improve human health and nutrition
aimed to produce good quality and high quantity crops.

What’s In

Activity 1. Guess Me!

Directions. Answer the puzzle by writing your answers in the grid.

1 2 3

2
3

4
4

DOWN ACROSS
1. Enzymes that help cut and 1. Technology used to remove and insert
synthesize DNA nucleotide genetic sequences from and into other
sequences.

2. Process to produce identical 2. Organisms where the recombinant

organism without using gametes DNA is introduced usually bacteria.

3. Practiced to indirectly manipulate 3. Breeding of organism that are

genes focusing on the physical traits genetically similar to maintain desired
among organisms. traits.

4. DNA is cut out of one organism and 4. Technique used to compare DNA from
put into another organism two or more organisms.
 Notes to the Teacher
This module will help you to understand the concepts about the process of
benefits of genetic engineering. All parts are consist of activities. Be guided
with the instruction on how you will answer each. Expectedly you will meet
the target at the end of the module.

What’s New

Activity 2 Transgenic (GM) Organisms

Directions. Name the transgenic organism based from the description given by
filling up the missing letters.
1. __ __ A __ __ __ E taste of grapes but looks like apple

contained human protein per litre of

2. __ __ A __ __ __E __I __ __O__ milk and found to be more nutritionally
balance

3. __E __O__OU___ injected with scorpion venom aimed to

__A__ __ AG ___ kill caterpillars

4. B__N__N__ V__CC___N___ can produce virus proteins against

hepatitis and cholera

5. E___ ___ ___E__I __ __IA insulin gene is injected to bacteria to

___O___I produce hormone insulin

6. SP__D__R G___ ___T spider enhanced milk that can produce

silk stronger than steel

7. L__M__N__ __S C___T produce a fluorescent protein in its fur

8. L__G___R hybrid of tiger and lion

 What is It

The aim of planting genetically modified organism and its commercial use is to help
improve farming methods efficiently and productively. Some of the most common
crops are soybean, maize, cotton, canola, alfalfa, papaya, eggplant, potato, apple,
safflower, pineapple, and sugarcane.
Genetically modified plants have created resistance to harmful agents, enhanced
product yield, and shown increased adaptability for better survival. Recombinant
technology has been widely used in improving crop varieties. Several transgenic or
genetically modified organisms (GMO) have been produced. Genetically Modified
organism are also called transgenic organism, since genes are transferred from one
organism to another. Recombinant DNA technology is playing a vital role in
improving health conditions by developing new vaccines and pharmaceuticals. The
treatment strategies are also improved by developing diagnostic kits, monitoring
devices, and new therapeutic approaches. Synthesis of synthetic human insulin and
erythropoietin by genetically modified bacteria; human growth which cure stunted
growth; tissues plasminogen activator which dissolves blood clots among patients
who had heart attack; transgenic pigs used to produced human hemoglobin; human
clotting factors have also been produced in the milk of transgenic goats; production
of “pharm” animals to synthesize such as pharmaceutical products and production
of new types of experimental mutant mice for research purposes.

Production of human insulin in bacteria

The transfer of human gene to bacteria Escherichia coli aims to have a mass
production of human insulin to cure diabetes mellitus. Insulin gene is extracted from
a human cell and spliced into a plasmid vector before inserted into a bacterial cell.
The transgenic bacteria are selected and cultured to be able to increase its number
carrying human insulin gene. The bacteria are harvested, purified and packed for
human use.

List of genetically modified organisms

Purpose Plant Descriptions

Herbicide Soybean Glyphosate herbicide (Roundup) tolerance conferred by

tolerance expression of a glyphosate-tolerant form of the
plant enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate
synthase (EPSPS) isolated from the soil
bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, strain CP4
Insect Corn Resistance to insect pests, specifically the European
resistance corn borer, through expression of the
insecticidal protein Cry1Ab from Bacillus thuringiensis
Altered fatty Canola High laurate levels achieved by inserting the gene for
acid ACP thioesterase from the California bay
composition tree Umbellularia californica
Virus resistance Plum Resistance to plum pox virus conferred by insertion of a
coat protein (CP) gene from the virus

Vitamin Rice Three genes for the manufacture of beta-carotene, a

enrichment precursor to vitamin A, in the endosperm of the rice
prevent its removal (from husks) during milling
Vaccines Tobacco Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) produced in
transgenic tobacco induces immune response when
injected into mice
Oral vaccines Maize Fusion protein (F) from Newcastle disease virus (NDV)
expressed in corn seeds induces an immune response
when fed to chickens
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-organisms-gmos-transgenic-
crops-and-732/

Activity 3 Uses of Transgenic (GM) Organisms

Direction. Match the following genetically modified organism to its application by
writing on the space given. Write the letter that corresponds to your answer on the
space before the number
______1. Cotton A. Medicine/ Health Proposes
______2. Soy oil B. Energy sources
______3. Corn for livestock feeds C. Manufacturing products
______4. Large quantities of tomatoes D. Good yield/ Food supply
______5. Biodiesel and ethanol from corn E. High Quality Crops
______6. Drugs and genes
 What’s More

Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology

and medicine. Bioethics is multidisciplinary. It blends philosophy, theology, history,
and law with medicine, nursing, health policy, and the medical humanities .
It is concerned with all the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among
life sciences and the cited fields. Bioethics is commonly understood that refers to the
ethical implications and application of the health-related life sciences including
biotechnology, such as cloning, gene therapy, life extension, human genetic
engineering. It promotes critic reflection about ethical conflicts, which are caused by
progressing in life science and medicine.

Activity 4 Benefit and Risk of GMO

Direction. Write the letter B if the statement given is a benefit while the letter R if it
is a risk from the use of genetically modified organism.
________1. Crops like potato, tomato, soybean and rice are currently being genetically
engineered to obtain new strains with better nutritional qualities and increased yield.
________2. Genetic engineering in food can be used to produce totally the same or
identical substances such as proteins and other food nutrients.
________3. Positive genetic engineering deals with enhancing the positive traits in an
individual like increasing longevity or human capacity while negative genetic
engineering deals with the suppression of negative traits in human beings like certain
genetic diseases.
________4. Genetic engineering in food involves the alteration of genes in crops.
________5. While increasing the immunity to diseases in plants, the resistance genes
may get transferred to the harmful pathogens.
________6. Genetic engineering can hamper the diversity in organisms.
________7. The genetic modification of foods can be used to increase their medicinal
value, thus making edible vaccines available.

What I Have Learned

1. Genetic Engineering is the process of changing the DNA in living organisms

to create something new.
2. Genetically modified organism is also called transgenic organism because
there was a transfer of genes from one organism to another.
3. Planting GMO and its commercial use improve farming methods efficiently
and effectively.
 4. Recombinant DNA technology is playing a vital role in improving health
conditions by developing new vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
5. Bioethics is the ethical implication and application of the health-related life
sciences biotechnology such as cloning, gene therapy, life extension, human
genetic engineering.

What I Can Do

Activity 6. What is your stand?

Directions. Below are some of the arguments about the use of transgenic organism.
In your own perspective, explain your answer in not more than 5 sentences.
1. Among the cited examples of GMO, which do you think is the most
beneficial?
2. If you are a farmer would you take the chance of growing crops that are
pest resistant? Why or why not?
3. Considering the knowledge gained in genetic engineering, would you try to
patronize GMO fruits and vegetables? Why or why not?
4. Is creating or altering genes of an organism a form of Blasphemy to the
creator (God)? Why?
5. Is genetic engineering morally permissible or not?

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. What do you call the process of manipulating genes in order to have the desired
trait?
A. artificial selection C. genetic engineering
B. cloning D. selective breeding
2. Which among the choices is the other term for genetically modified organism?
A. artificially selected organism C. selected organism
B. cloned organism D. transgenic organism
3. Which among the choices below is used for improving health condition by
producing vaccines and pharmaceuticals?
A. cloning C. recombinant DNA technology
B. gene splicing D. selective breeding
 4. Which is referred to as the ethical implications and applications of the
process of genetic engineering?
A. bioethics C. biogenesis
B. biosystematics D. biogenetics
5. What do you call the transgenic organism that taste of grapes but looks like
apple?
A. Aplgrapes C. grapple
B. Aplres D. legrapes

6. What is the transgenic organism that insulin gene is injected to produce

hormone insulin?
A. Amoeba proteus C. both and b
B. Escherichia coli D. none of a and b
7. What plant is used to produce virus proteins against hepatitis B?
A. alfalfa C. soy beans
B. corn D. tobacco
8. What animal is used to enhance milk to produce silk stronger than steel?
A. cow C. scorpion
B. lion D. spider
For numbers 9-15, refer to the following choices.

A. Statement I is correct
B. Statement II is correct
C. Statement I and II are correct
D. Statement I and II are incorrect
______9. I. Genetically modified plants have created resistance to harmful
agents, enhanced product yield, and shown increased adaptability
for better survival
II. Recombinant DNA technology has applications in various area
like medicine focusing in the discoveries of medicine to cure and
improve human health and nutrition
_____10. I. Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are products of
recombinant DNA technology
II. Translated organisms are other term for genetically modified
organisms
______11. I. Corn Resistance to insect pests, specifically the European corn
borer, through expression of the insecticidal protein Cry1Ab
from Bacillus thuringiensis
II. Vaccines in Maize Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)
produced in transgenic maize induces immune response when
injected into mice.
______12. I. Synthesis of synthetic human haemoglobin and erythropoietin
by genetically modified bacteria
II. Human growth hormone which cure blood clotting among
arteries
______13. I. Human clotting factors have also been produced in the milk of
transgenic cows
II. “Pharm” animals were produced to synthesize pharmaceutical
products
______14. I. Crops like potato, tomato, soybean and rice are currently being
genetically engineered to obtain new strains with better nutritional
qualities and increased yield.
III. Angus cow give enhanced milk that can produce silk stronger than
steel
______15. I. Eherichia coli has injected human gene to produce hormone
insulin.
II. Liger is hybrid of tiger and lion.

Additional Activities

1. Watch the video in the website:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KonUXpTv0SI
2. Show your learnings in the module by choosing from any of the platforms
suggested below to be uploaded in our Google Drive folder named as ELS1stQ
 an info graphics
 a one- page essay with maximum 300 words