Grp3_6Vic


 * Group members:**
 * Crystal Chew, Tan Ying Hui, Ryan Wee, Rohith Srinivas, Muhd Dhafer**

= Man and the Environment Activity 2 =
 * __On Google Documents.__**

= Man and the Environment Activity 1 = __**Final copies:**__ ~Notes to be printed and submitted to Mrs. Lam. Ryan Wee (27/06/2012) ~As of 27 June (Considerably major changes by Ryan after Mrs. Lam's comments)
 * Topic: BIOTECHNOLOGY **
 * Notes**
 * PowerPoint**
 * YH: Printed the above two documents at 8.34 p.m. **

PDF: In case the PowerPoint is too big:

NOTE: The script is outdated not accurate anymore. Please inform us if the final copy is required. We will gladly make the required amendments.

~As of 26 June (Some changes by Dhafer)

Pleasekwrite out (or print, whichever you prefer) your own part of the script on cue cards and be ready to present when school reopens :D In case you have forgotten, the colours for each group member are: Crystal - Blue Ying Hui - Purple Dhafer - Black Rohith - Green Ryan - Orange ~Ying Hui

Nevermind since no one responded, Crystal and I will be preparing all the cue cards so you boys don't need to do anything. ~Ying Hui

New Script going to be posted up!! - Dhafer


 * __Discussion and Notifications__**

__Can we change the description of the different types of biotechnology to the description below?__ ~Ryan Wee
 * Red **biotechnology is the medical application of biotechnology. In red biotechnology, man alters the genetic makeup of organisms to produce or improve on a medical product, or to observe the reactions of a genetically-modified organism to a medical product.
 * White **biotechnology is industrial-centred. Man alters the genetic makeup of organisms or uses cells or their components to create products which are industrially useful, destroy harmful products, or simplify industrial activities such as leaching.
 * Green **biotechnology is applied agriculturally. It is used to find or modify the genetic characteristics of crops or livestock. Man alters the genetic makeup of organisms to produce the desired outcome.
 * Blue **biotechnology is applied to marine environments and ecosystems. Man alters the genetic makeup of organisms and introduces them to a marine environment or introduces existing substances or organisms to ensure marine safety.


 * This is what I have tried to do. Rohith has said he will check the wikispace some time tomorrow or late tonight.**
 * Firstly, here is my draft for Point 2, the explanation in fewer than 200 words (It is 199 words). It is probably not that good, but it is all I could cobble together from my research and knowledge. __Does anybody know whether bioinformatics should be included?__**


 * I personally don't think it is part of biotech. However, since it deals with the analysis of gene expression, protein expression and mutations in cancer etc., you can say that it helps with biotech since it provides the detailed analysis that helps when finding new cures. **
 * - Ying Hui **

This development involves using living organisms or their processes, or modifying them, for human purposes, be it to develop new medicines or to enhance crops. In biotechnology, humans alter biotic factors to achieve outcomes. There are four main ways in which biotechnology is applied – red, white, green and blue. In these ways, humans alter different factors to get different results. Red biotechnology is applied medically. Man alters the genetic makeup or amount of organisms to produce a desired medical product, or to experiment on their reaction to a particular medical product. White biotechnology is industrial-centred. Humans create products which are environmentally-friendly, or produce useful chemicals and destroy harmful ones. To do this, man designs organisms, and alters their makeup, or changes the amount of organisms, such as enzymes, in an environment. Green biotechnology is applied agriculturally. It is used to find, suppress, introduce or modify genetic characteristics of crops or livestock. Man alters organisms’ genetic makeup so that a desired quality is present or an undesired quality absent. Blue biotechnology is rare and is used in marine environments. Man uses biological methods tokalter the physical environment or genetic makeup of the marine organisms to obtain a desired outcome.

9. We can have new medicines and cures for diseases. 10. We can better clean up things like oil spills using blue biotechnology 11. We can use enzymes as industrial catalysts to speed up industrial reactions, by making them produce valuable chemicals. 12. We can destroy hazardous and dangerous industrial chemicals. 13. We can have more effective and safer vaccines. 14. We can have more medicines that are uniquely t!ilored to a person’s individual genetic makeup.
 * Secondly, here are some benefits that have not been mentioned (Point 3):**

For the negative impacts, we could talk about how there might be unintended consequences when we genetically modify things. For green biotechnology, when we modify crops and livestock, there could be harm to other organisms in the ecosystem, or, for crops, there might be cross-pollination with other crops which could result in potentially hazardous offspring. To add to that, there might be new weeds or pests because of the genetically modified crops and livestock that are hard to control.
 * Last but not least, a note for Point 4.**


 * ~**Ryan Wee

I'll post the points here and we can put them in the ppt later on :)) - Biotechnology makes use of organisms to produce useful products, usually on a large scale. - Genetically modified (GM) crops are improved crops that involve artificial insertion of genes from other organisms. **They are more resistant to diseases, drought and pests, and are able to provide higher yields. It is a potential solution to the dwindling food supply due to a rapidly growing world population. (Point 3, 4)**
 * The example of development is in Biotechnology. (Point 1** **of 'expectations of end product'.)**
 * -** Fermentation is the process in which micro-organisms convert sugars to other products like alcohol and carbon dioxide. **In the absence of oxygen, yeast and bacteria carry out fermentation to obtain energy for growth and respiration. (Point 3? --Community)**

an should bear responsibility towards the environment as humans carry out many activities to meet their needs and to build better lives for themselves. These activities have great impact on the Earth, the human race, the environment and the organisms that inhabit the Earth with us. As we live, we take many resources from the environment. Sometimes, in the process, we release harmful substances to the environment, like waste and poisonous gases. Over time, this causes many environmental problems which may be difficult to fix if left unchecked for a long time, like global warming. **(guiding question 1)** ~ Crystal

Benefits to Man and the Community: 1. Farmers will harvest more crops Explanation: GM Crops are pest-resistant, which would result in lesser crops lost to insect attacks. 2. Healthier food Explanation: There will be a decrease in the usage of pesticides so thekfood will contain less chemicals. 3. Better working conditions for workers (farmers) Explanation: Less exposure to harmful chemicals 4. More nutritional food Examples: Golden Rice - Increased iron and Vitamin A Canola (seeds are used for producing edible oil) with oils that have lesser cholesterol 5. Better storage properties and Improved taste Example: Flavr-Savr tomato To develop their full flavour, tomatoes need to ripen on the vine. However, as they ripen, they become soft, making it hard to harvest and to maintain in ideal conditions for sale. Hence, farmers harvest before tomatoes are ripe and ripen them using ethylene gas which results in the loss of flavour. Flavr-Savr tomatoes ripen on the vine longer while maintaining firmer skin. 6. Crops are more disease-resistant 7. Crops have increased tolerance to unfavourable conditions 8. More environmentally-friendly ~ Ying Hui

Hi Group 3,

Good job! So you should be ready to share and present your research to the class next week when school re-opens.

Regards, Mrs Debbie Lam