Biodiversity and Health Society

According to Clarke (2013), what is Biodiversity?

It is the measure of the number of species on the planet or in a specified area.

According to Cunningham (2013), what is Biodiversity?

The variation of life forms making the world beautiful and exciting place to live.

What is Biological Diversity?

A sum total of all different species of animals, plants, fungi, and microbial organisms living on earth and the variety of habitats in which they live. It is used as a measure of the health of the biological systems.

UN Biodiversity convention

Diversity of all living organisms, habitats, and ecosystems on land, in freshwater, in the ocean and in the air

Genetic Diversity

Genetic differences within a single population and among geographically separate populations

Species Diversity

All different species or kinds of organisms on our planet

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of interactions within and among Earth’s different ecosystems

According to Census of Marine Life, what is the total number estimated species on earth?

8.7 million total number of estimated species, 6.5 million on land, and 2.2 million in the ocean.

What make up more than half of the known species?

Insects and other verterbrates

Why is the Philippines considered as a Megadiverse Country?

It contains two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity and between 70% and 80% of the world’s plant and animal species. It ranks 5th in the number of plant species and maintains 5% of the world’s flora.

What is the importance of Biodiversity?

It boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.

What are the benefits of Biodiversity?

Ecosystem functions and services, Food sources, Raw materials, Medicines

Extinction and population reductions

Refers to the termination of a species caused by habitat destruction, introduction of nonnative species, over-exploitation, pollution or even climate change.

Endangered

Population is low but extinction is less imminent, it is an immediate danger of becoming extinct

Threatened

Species most at risk of becoming extinct in the near future when not protected

Other threats to Biodiversity (Self-Explanatory)

Hunting and over harvesting, Habitat Loss, Pollution, Invasive Species, Climate change, and Human Impacts

What’s a GMO?

It is known as a genetically modified organism, it is a plant, animal, microorganism or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology.

What is used in a laboratory to produce a Genetically Modified Organism?

Genetic engineering or Transgenic technology

What are we able to create with GMO?

Combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding.

Genetic Engineering

It states here that all living things use the same bases and the same genetic code. Each codon produces the same amino acid and transcription and translation, regardless of species. The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide remains unchanged, therefore enables us to take genes from one species and insert them into the genome of another species.

Plant examples of GMO

Golden rice, Insect resistant corn, Salt-resistant tomatoes

Animal Examples of GMO

Factor IX-producing sheep, Glowing pigs

Benefits of GMO Crops?

• Increased yield of crops

• Crops can grow in harsher environmental conditions

• Reduced need for pesticides that can cause harm

• Nutrient-enhanced crops

GMO’s impact to Biodiversity?

• Toxic effects

• Reduces the source of food

• Pest Resurgence

• Imbalance in nature

Golden Rice

It is enriched with beta-crone, and helps prevent malnutrition related blindness in developing countries.

Insect-resistant corn

Produces protein which pests do not like

Salt-resistant tomatoes

Can grown on saline soils

Factor IX-Producing sheep

Produces human clotting factors in their milk, it is used in treatment of hemophilia

Glowing Pigs

Cells from these specimens are used to study transplants and grafts and the final destinations of transplanted cells in the host body.