This document contains information about organic and genetically modified (GM) foods. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each type of food. For organic food, the advantages listed are less dependence on chemical fertilizers which is better for the environment, higher nutrient levels, and fewer harmful additives which reduces health risks. The disadvantages are that organic food is more expensive and supply is limited compared to demand. For GM food, the advantages listed are herbicide and insect tolerance leading to higher yields and economic/environmental benefits, as well as using crops as a source for pharmaceutical chemicals. The disadvantages include possible allergies in some consumers and concerns about labeling, ethics and religious issues. The document asks to write a report making a choice between organic

1. EST REVISION 2010
LONJAKAN THE USE OF USEFUL MICROORGANISMS (THEME : MAN & LIVING ORGANISMS)
SAUJANA 1
LONJAKAN WAYS TO SAVE THE EARTH ( NATURE & ENVIRONMENT )
SAUJANA 2
LONJAKAN THE PRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY AND ITS USES (THEME: NATURAL RESOURCES/ ENERGY)
SAUJANA 3 Question: write a report on the production of nuclear energy and its uses
Introduction:
The fossil resources such as petroleum are depleting fast but the worldwide consumption of fuels is
high and keeps on increasing. When there is shortage of fossil fuels, its cost will increase. This in
turn will increase the production cost of electricity and hence increases the price of goods. Nuclear
energy can be one of the alternative sources of energy which is efficient as only a small quantity of
nuclear energy is sufficient to generate a large amount of electricity.
P1 nuclear fission
 A process where an unstable and heavy nucleus is bombarded by a neutron, causing it to
 split into two or more lighter nuclei together with the release of neutrons and energy
 the total mass after nuclear fission is slightly lower than the mass before fission
 the loss in mass is converted into large amount of nuclear energy and neutrons are
released
 nuclear fission can only occur in some types of heavy and unstable nuclei such as uranium
-235 and
 plutonium -239
P2 nuclear fusion
 a process where two light nuclei combine to form a heavier, more stable nucleus together
with the release of a large amount of nuclear energy
 the heat and light energy from the sun is due to of fusion of hydrogen atoms at a very high
temp and pressure
 atomic mass loss is higher than nuclear fission . hence it produces more nuclear energy
than nuclear fission
 advantages: produces more energy, less radioactive radiation
 disadvantages: the rate of nuclear fusion cannot be controlled and occurs at very high
temperature and pressure that is difficult to achieve.
P3 effects of nuclear energy production
 generally people are against the use of nuclear energy because
 they fear of nuclear power stations/ reactor accidents and
 Possibility of sabotages which will greatly harm not just the workers but also the residents
who stay within 1,500 km radius of the area.
 Examples of nuclear reactor disasters are Chernobyl and Three Mile Island accidents
 Which have caused deaths and radiation sickness such as cancer, long term effects such as
gene mutations and foetal deformation
 For safety, only trained and skilled persons should be allowed to handle radioactive
substances
 The storage and transportation of radioactive wastes and radioactive substances should
comply with standard safety procedures.
P4 to generate electrical energy
 Nuclear power stations are the only source of electrical energy that is able to meet the
increasing demand for electricity in the future
 Nuclear power stations do not pollute the environment
 The electricity produced is cheaper compared to electricity generated through
conventional methods

2.  Enables us to depend less on fossil fuels which is
 getting more expensive and depleting in amount
 nuclear fission nuclear energyheat up watersteam turns the turbinesrotates
the dynamo in generator produce electricity distributed to consumers through
electricity transmission system
P5 operate satellites
 only two types of energy are used to operate satellites – solar and nuclear energy
 conventional fuel can’t be used as oxygen is not available in space for combustion to
happen
 examples of satellites are navigation and communication satellites
 No pollution in space as there is no release of greenhouse gases
 This ensures space is kept free from pollutants
 Long term use of energy due to long half life of radioactive substances
P6 nuclear weapons
 In the 19th century, the rapid advance in modern technology and industrial organization
greatly increased the destructive power of armed forces
 Nuclear weapons are able to inflict far greater damage within a few hours
 Many countries including some third world countries now have nuclear weapons
 Missiles , eg is land-based missiles – they are mobile and are mounted on transporters by
firing and control facilities
 The atom bomb – the element used is uranium 235.
 When U-235 splits, it gives off energy in the form of heat and gamma radiation
 Which is the most powerful form of radioactivity and the most lethal
P7 ways to control nuclear forces
 Early-warning systems – used to determine the size and capabilities of potentially hostile
forces and to provide warning of impending attach
 Surveillance satellites-provide information about activities of other countries
 This can reduce “fog of war”
 Antimissile weapons- it is now possible to device a rocket that can intercept another
rocket/missile and destroy it
 This procedure is expensive as one country has to buy many offensive missiles to saturate
the defense
 Star wars- new technologies such as radar which have become more efficient,
 And computers are now are more capable of rapidly processing the data that they
received.
 Defense system may consist of layered defense: the boost phase, the mid-course phase
and the terminal phase.
Conclusion The danger of nuclear energy has been overblown by the public and the press. People are often
confused about nuclear power plants which they often relate with atomic bomb. Although there is
no guarantee of non-occurrence of nuclear related explosions and radiation leakage, these mishaps
can be avoided through installation of advanced safety and precaution systems. The statistics of
such accidents are also extremely low. Hence, nuclear energy is one of the possible sources of
energy to meet the huge demand of electricity in the future.
LONJAKAN Question : Write a report about The Importance of Using ICT for the Benefit of Mankind
SAUJANA 4 (THEME: COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY )
P1 Modern day communications such as telecommunications have replaced old-fashioned
communications
*old-fashioned communications involved the use of smoke, reflected lights, carrier pigeons, the
post and telegraph
*among their disadvantages are ; the amount of information that can be communicated is limited
*it is more suitable for short distance communication

3. *there is no guarantee of safety of the messages sent
P2 Nowadays the communication instruments are radio. Television, fax machine, computer,
telephone.
 Information is transmitted over long distances by electric signals, radio waves or light
 Most of the communication signals used are in digital form
 Computers are used to store and process data
 Computers are also used in communication via the Internet
 On-line business and shopping
 On-line transactions
 E-mails
 Information can be obtained quickly via web sites
P3 Modern communication methods and devices
 Satellites which use microwaves to relay information around the world
 Fibre optics are developed in 1960s
 Which are capable of carrying many different types of communication via the same cable.
 The introduction of digital telephone , analogue signals were replaced by digital signals in
the form of electric pulses.
 Digital signals are less likely to be distorted
 Present day telephones are equipped with features that have a lot of functions such as
 GPRS, MMS, WAP and 3G.
 Conventional televisions are slowly replaced by flat panel LCDs, plasma TV , High definition
and 3D technology.
DO NOT FORGET THE RELEVANT INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION!
LONJAKAN QUESTION: Write about Synthetic polymers and their uses
SAUJANA 5 P1 What are synthetic polymers
 They are formed by chemical reactions using monomers derived from petroleum.
 Three examples : synthetic rubber, plastics and synthetic fibres
 Synthetic rubber , an artificially produced material with properties similar to natural
rubber
 example is neoprene – used to make gloves, water hose, diving suits
 Plastics, many types such as polythene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
 PVC can be made into food trays, toys, electric wire insulators
 Polythene can be made into plastic bags/ containers
P2 Produced by polymerization where many monomers combine to form long chains
 Many monomers combine to form bigger molecules called polymers
 The types of polymer produced depends on the monomers used.
 Some polymers are made up of the same monomers whereas some are made up of
different types of monomers.
 Synthetic polymer neoprene; the monomer is chloroprene
 ,, polythene; the monomer is ethane
 ,, PVC ; ,, is vinyl chloride
P3 Examples of synthetic polymers and their uses
 Neoprene rubber - water pipes, hand gloves
 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – water pipes, electric insulators, rain clothes
 Nylon – synthetic textile, string

4.  Uses;
Medicine
MEDICINE; AGRICULTURE HOMESPlastic containers,
clothing, carpets, floor
Disposable syringes, Polymeric materials to coverings, plastic and
medicine bottles, surgical improve soil aeration garbage bags, furniture
gloves, artificial limbs,
heart valve replacement
INDUSTRY SPORTS;
Automobile parts, tyres, Playground equipment,
windscreens, pipes, tanks, golf clubs, protective
wood substitutes, helmets, rackets, balls.
adhesives tents, raincoats
P4 General characteristics of synthetic rubber
 Able to withstand the action of solvents such as acids
 Good insulators
 More durable
 High resistance to heat and chemicals
 Good insulators of heat and electricity
 Impermeable to air
P5 Plastics
 Two types of plastics; thermoplastic and thermosetts
 Depending on the strength of the bonds between adjacent polymer chains
 Thermoplastics: can be melted or remoulded
 As they are not resistant to heat. Elastic, flexible. Light and can be moulded repeatedly
 Disadvantage: it burns and becomes a fire risk, therefore most plastic furniture and
mattresses are coated with fire retardants which makes them harder to burn.
 Thermosetts: can only be moulded once
 It is heat resistant, hard, durable
 Thus can be used as automobile body parts, adhesive for plywoods, tanks. Examples
include melamine
P6 effects of improper disposal of plastic materials to the environment
 Many environmental problems have arised due to indiscriminate throwing and burning of
plastic
 It is non-biodegradable and thus remains in the environment for hundreds of years
 If the products are thrown into rivers and drains – will clog up the water ways and cause
flash floods
 Burning of plastic cause air pollution.
 It releases toxic gas and acidic gases such as dioxin, carbon monoxide and chlorine into
the atmosphere.
 Dioxin is carcinogenic (cause cancer)- can destroy immune system , nervous system

5.  The air pollutants increase greenhouse effect and can lead to global warming
 Thrown into sea- eaten by marine life lead to their death
 They might get entangled and drown by the plastics- turtles
P7 Ways to dispose synthetic polymers
 Recycle, reuse of synthetic polymers
 Participate in community recycling project
 Should be continuously recycled to make new plastic products
 Lesser amount of resources used, hence helping in resource conservation
 Old tyres as artificial reefs
 New Synthetic plastics can be decomposed- this type should be encouraged
 Good habits of disposing synthetic polymers should be inculcated through informal and
formal education
DO NOT FORGET THE RELEVANT INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION!

6. LONJAKAN Study the information given below regarding organic and Genetically Modified (GM) Food.
SAUJANA 6
(Food and ORGANIC GM FOOD
Nutrition) Advantages *less dependent on chemical *herbicide tolerance & insect
fertilizers-better for the tolerance
environment *economic and environmental
*more nutrients benefits
*contains less harmful additives- *source for pharmaceutical
reduces health risks chemicals
Disadvantages *expensive *causing allergies to some
*supply is limited compared to consumers
demand * concerns about labeling, ethics
and religious issues
Write a report on this topic. Your report must include the following:
*a choice of either organic or Genetically Modified Food.
*reasons for your choice.
*a comparison of the two types of food.
*any other relevant information.
LONJAKAN Write a report about new media. Include the following in your report.
SAUJANA 7 *definition of new media
(communication *globalization and new media
and technology) *new media as a tool for social change
*national security
*interactivity and new media
LONJAKAN Write a report about the properties of alloys and their uses.
SAUJANA 8 *steel
(it’s chemistry) *bronze
*pewter
*brass
*duralumin
LONJAKAN Text book – page 226 ,exercise B.
SAUJANA 9
(The Universe)
* The importance of genetic research and development
extra * natural disasters

7. LS 6 ORGANIC GM FOOD
Advantages P1*less dependent on chemical fertilizers- P6*herbicide tolerance & insect tolerance
better for the environment E6 through genetic alterations
E1 less dependent on chemical fertilizers E6 herbicide and insect tolerance result to higher
because farmers mostly use organic fertilizers and better yield
E1such as compost E6 able to sustain the increasing global
E1 which is better for the environment unlike population
chemical fertilizers which may pollute the E6 crops like rice and papaya are now resistant
water through runoff water and groundwater against tungro viruses
E1and may cause eutrophication . E6 and ring spot virus infection
E1 organic fertilizers also ensures the fertility E6 examples of herbicide tolerance food is
of soil is maintained Roundup Ready Soya Bean,
E1 organic food have negligible chemical E6 insect tolerance means less use of pesticides
residues E6 thus food is more nutritious
E1toxic chemicals from the air is also E6 and safe for consumption
removed P7*economic and environmental benefits
E1thus bring health benefits to consumers E7 higher yield of GM food will improve the
P2*more nutrients income of farmers
E2 Studies have shown that organic food is E7 the surplus yield can be exported which can
nutritious as they have more nutrients further boost their income
E2 they have high content of calcium, iron, E7 also increase the revenue of the country
magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. E7 when GM food is insect tolerance, no
E2 scientific studies also show that organic pesticides is needed to protect the crops from
food have significantly higher levels of insects thus no pesticides will be washed into
cancer-fighting antioxcidants water sources
E2 such as flavonoids E7 which can harm the aquatic plants and
P3*contains less harmful additives-reduces animals
health risks E7 GM Food reduces the need for spraying
E3The use of antibiotics, chemical herbicides, pesticides thus improve soil
E3antimicrobials, quality which gives environmental benefit
E3and hormones or E7Reduced spraying and leads to significant
other growth promoters savings in diesel fuel and reduced carbon dioxide
is prohibited in organic production. emissions,
E3Similarly, the use of synthetic E7making a potentially valuable contribution to
chemicals as preservatives, people’s action towards climate change
E3colorings, P8*source for pharmaceutical chemicals
E3antioxidants, etc., is prohibited in the E8 golden rice is enriched with vitamin A.
processing of organic foods. E8 this transgenic rice can improve the lives of
E3 published research has demonstrated that poor people especially those who suffer from
many of these types of Vitamin A deficiency
chemicals are known to disrupt the hormone, E8 transgenic banana for oral vaccination against
nervous and immune systems. polio disease
E3 organic food reduce the risk of E8 vaccination can be performed in pain free
certain types of cancers such as lymphoma, condition makes it
leukemia, breast, uterine and prostate E8 more convenient and economical
cancers, E8 as there is no use of syringes and other
apparatus for injections.
E8
Disadvanta P4*expensive P9*causing allergies to some consumers
ges E4 expensive because supply is limited E9 Allergies may manifest themselves most
E4 expensive because of the hidden costs - a commonly as a burning and reddening of the
farmer who wants to switch to organic skin,

8. farming has to follow organic practices E9 which may appear within minutes of eating a
E4no chemical fertilizers, pesticides, no particular food such as Gm food
sewage sludge for 3 years before he can get E9They sometimes lead to asthma or intestinal
certification. upsets
E4 This means that for 3 years he probably E9But the percentage of people getting allergic
can’t grow much, as he has to clear his soil of reactions is very low
the chemicals. E9 A new transgenic variety of Soya was
E4 During these fallow years, many farmers developed as an improved animal feed by
plant a ground cover called alfalfa or clover in inserting a gene from the Brazil nut.
order to fix nitrogen from the air into the soil E9It turned out in laboratory tests, that the new
E4– nitrogen being an essential plant nutrient variety was potentially able to cause anallergic
E4 expensive labour cost to deal with pest reaction in humans and the product was
infestations and weeds therefore not brought to the market.
P5*supply is limited compared to demand E9This shows that laboratory tests are a reliable
E5 farmers get smaller yield per acre of means of testing GM products or other novel
organic food foods for potential allergenicity.
E5 thus cannot high demand of consumers E9 Conversely, genetic engineering will, in the
E5 when cost is expensive, less number of future, be able to remove specific genes from
suppliers are interested to be the distributors crops which may lead to less allergenic foods and
E5 hence limiting the supply of this food E9 thereby improve the life of those suffering
E5normally only certain supermarkets or from food allergies.
hypermarkets sell organic food P10* concerns about labeling, ethics and
E5 small scale sellers seldom sell organic food religious issues
due to the high cost E10 for countries that are multi racial like
Malaysia, certain groups of people refrain from
taking certain types of food.
E10 vegetarians do not eat meat at all
E10 Muslims on the other hand eat only halal
food
E10 therefore these people need to be informed
of the food content before consuming the
product
E10 when products are properly labeled,
consumers will be able to make informed choices
based on ethical, religious or even moral
concerns.
E10 many governments such as The Ministry of
Health in Malaysia has prepared a draft
Regulation on Genetically Modified Food
E10 this draft requires all GMFs that are to be
imported,
E10 or sold locally must be approved by
E10 Director General of Health before it is
allowed to be marketed.
E10 also requires the food to be labeled
according to the provisions stipulated

9. LONJAKAN Write a report about new media. Include the following in your report.
SAUJANA 7 *definition of new media
(communication - new information and entertainment technologies which are interactive such as the Internet,
and technology) ,computer games, websites, and CD-ROMS.
- what distinguishes new media from traditional media is the digitizing of content into bits.
-Wikipedia itself is one of the best examples of the New media phenomenon, combining
Internet accessible digital text, images and video with web-links, creative participation of
contributors, interactive feedback of users and formation of a participant community of editors
and donors.
- New media is not television programs, feature films, magazines, books, or paper-based
publications - unless they contain technologies that enable digital interactivity, such as graphic
tags containing web-links.[2]
*globalization and new media
-The rise of new media has increased communication between people all over the world and
the Internet. It has allowed people to express themselves through blogs, websites, pictures, and
other user-generated media
-Globalization shortens the distance between people all over the world by the electronic
communication making physical location much less significant for our social relationships"
*new media as a tool for social change
-New Media has been used extensively by social movements to educate, organize, share
cultural products of movements, communicate, coalition build, and more.
-Using websites, blogs, and online videos to demonstrate the effectiveness of a movement,
organization etc.
- Along with this example the use of high volume blogs has allowed numerous views and
practices to be more widespread and gain more public attention.
-People in communities use words on screens to exchange pleasantries and argue, engage in
intellectual discourse, conduct commerce, make plans, brainstorm, gossip, feud, fall in love,
create a little high art and a lot of idle talk"
*national security
-Particularly of interest to the community are Facebook and Twitter, two sites where individuals
freely divulge personal information that can then be sifted through for the interest of both
people and the average citizen.[23]
-some top secret information can also be leaked and discussed openly by the people- thus
causing threat to national security
*interactivity and new media
- new media as communication technologies that enable or facilitate user-to-user interactivity
and interactivity between user and information.[24]
-Any individual with the appropriate technology can now produce his or her online media and
include images, text, and sound about whatever he or she chooses.[25] So the new media with
technology convergence shifts the model of mass communication( one way communication/
one to one or one to many), and radically shapes the ways we interact and communicate with
one another.
-new media is many to many communication
-Interactivity is present in some programming work, such as video games
-These games, developments of "new media", allow for users to establish relationships and
experience a sense of belonging, despite spatial boundaries. These games can be used as an
escape or to act out a desired life.

10. LONJAKAN Write a report about the properties of alloys and their uses.
SAUJANA *steel
8 *bronze
(it’s *pewter
chemistry) *brass
*duralumin
Alloy Composition Special properties Uses
Alloy- the formation of alloys changes the properties of metals
Alloying changes the characteristics of elemental metals because it changes the arrangement of atoms in the
metals. In pure metals, the rows of atoms can slide over one another easily. Thus, pure metals are soft. Their shape
changes easily when pressure is exerted. In an alloy, the adding of one or more other elements disrupts the neat
arrangement of atoms in the metal. This is because the added element has atoms of a different size. The atoms of
the added element stop the rows from sliding over one another. Thus, alloys are harder and stronger than pure
metals. Alloys are widely used in industries due to their desirable properties
Steel 99.5% iron Hard, strong and resistant to Construction material for buildings,
0.5% carbon corrosion compared to pure iron bridges, vehicles and machines
which is soft and corrodes rapidly
Pewter 97% tin Shiny, comparatively soft and Household items, decorative items and
3% antimony and malleable, and resistant to corrosion. tableware such as plates, spoons and
copper teapots
Brass 75& copper Hard, shiny, strong, malleable and Making decorative items, musical
25% zinc resistant to corrosion instruments and food containers
Duralumin 95% aluminium Light, strong and resistant to Bodies of aircraft, boats, bicycles,
3%copper corrosion buses and trains
1% magnesium
15manganese
LS 9
For those who believe the costs of space exploration are greater than the benefits, George Delucas, an
astronaut who flew on the 1992 Columbia mission, says, “There will always be people who would like to
put an end to space travel, but I don’t think that is what our population wants or needs. Our county has
always been about exploration and the pursuit of knowledge” This statement generalizes the attitude
many Americans have toward the space program. When the Apollo 11 crew successfully landed on the
moon, the crew and millions of Americans were filled with pride and a sense of accomplishment.
What most citizens do not realize is how much knowledge and new technology the United States
gained through Apollo 11 and the other space missions. Some of these citizens do not believe a vital
need for the space program exists. To them, the space program is just a waste of money and human
lives. The recent Columbia disaster that resulted in the loss of seven American lives only supports
their argument. However, it is not possible way to measure the loss of life and money over the advances
in knowledge, technology, and medicine. The only known fact is that the exploration of space has
When venturing into the dangers of space, the technology needed to survive the uninhabitable conditions
must be extremely advanced. Some of the most ingenious engineers have successfully developed the
technology into life-saving and improved medical devices. The new devices and advanced knowledge
have become even more important to the space program recently due to the ongoing criticism of its
existence. In the beginning years of the space program, little of the attention was focused on medical
benefits; most of the support from the public came from the “space race” (Rutz 2).
The space program has also been extremely helpful with the early diagnosing of medical
complications. One example of the imaging technology comes from NASA’s Jet Propulsion

11. Laboratory. “An estimated 44 million adults aged 50 years and older” have probable risk of contracting
“osteoporosis and low bone mass” (“Battling Brittle Bones” 1). The “accuDEXA Bone Mineral Density
Assessment System,” which was made from NASA technology, only uses one percent of an older
system’s energy, and the system weighs less (“Battling Brittle Bones” 1). Having such a light weight
and low energy consumptions allowed NASA to use the system in space to monitor astronauts.
NASA also developed a tool that is capable of monitoring an unborn fetus. The condition of these
unborn babies is capable of being monitored by transmitters that were originally used to measure
the temperature and pressure of an astronaut’s blood (Malick 2). Even the internal images of
humans are possible because of technology NASA derived to enhance pictures from outer space
(“Inventions from Space” 1). Thanks to the space program’s imaging technology, millions of people
can be examined quickly, painlessly, and thoroughly.
The direct spinoffs of the space program have led to many of the most convenient tools and
luxuries of life. When building a machine that is capable of flying at extremely high speeds into
space and still be able to return with humans onboard, the numbers of components onboard are
countless. To keep track of these millions of parts, NASA developed a bar coding system that is
now used in almost all stores to keep track and instantly change prices on products (“Inventions
from Space” 1). Human work life and home life have also been improved by the use of computers.
However, during the 1950’s, computers were size of a house, but traveling into space required a much
smaller computer that NASA made by finding a “microprocessor” created by Intel and Fairchild
(“Why Have Space Program” 2). NASA produced an extremely convenient development when they
needed power tools. However, NASA needed to use these tools on the surface of the moon. NASA
then developed battery powered tools that originally needed to be plugged in but could now be
used portably to drill samples out of the surface of the moon (“Space Benefits” 4). Although average
people may not feel similar to astronauts when using space-derived tools, the tools were originally
intended for astronauts.
The human desire to explore the unknown has led to greater knowledge, technology and new lands. Our
history has proven this over and over in the past. When the early Neanderthals left the f
(www.exampleessays.com)
Space exploration is our human response to curiosity about Earth, the moon, the planets, the sun and other stars,
and the galaxies. Piloted and unpiloted space vehicles venture far beyond the boundaries of Earth to collect valuable
information about the universe. Human beings have visited the moon and have lived in space stations for long
periods. Space exploration helps us see Earth in its true relation with the rest of the universe. Such
exploration could reveal how the sun, the planets, and the stars were formed and whether life exists beyond
our own world.
The space age began on Oct. 4, 1957. On that day, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik (later referred to as Sputnik
1), the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. The first piloted space flight was made on April 12, 1961, when Yuri A.
Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, orbited Earth in the spaceship Vostok (later called Vostok 1).
Unpiloted vehicles called space probes have vastly expanded our knowledge of outer space, the planets, and
the stars. In 1959, one Soviet probe passed close to the moon and another hit the moon. A United States probe flew
past Venus in 1962. In 1974 and 1976, the United States launched two German probes that passed inside the orbit of
Mercury, close to the sun. Two other U.S. probes landed on Mars in 1976. In addition to studying every planet
except Pluto, space probes have investigated comets and asteroids.
(NASA Book)

12. LS10* The importance of genetic research and development
MEDICINE AGRICULTURE
1. Genetic R&D has led to discovery of various 1. Genetic R&D in agriculture is significant in
hereditary diseases –diseases which are passed selective breeding – the process of crossing two
down from parents to offspring, caused by faulty parents, each with some good traits, to produce
genetic information. Eg Down’s syndrome, offspring with the good traits of both parents.
haemophilia and albinism 2)Examples are;
2. contributed to treatment of diseases: a) the high yielding MRQ74 and MRQ50 paddy
a) insulin needed by diabetics to control their b)Bigger and sweeter Exotica papaya and
blood sugar level is now produced by genetic Cikumega
engineering using bacteria. c)Brakmas cattle – high resistant to diseases and
b)haemophilia is a disorder in which the patient’s parasites
blood is unable to clot due to lack of certain d)species of dwarf chicken called serama
proteins. Such protein can now be produced using e)inserting of good genes into food to get
genetically engineered farm animals. favourable characteristics- GM food which are
c)cancerous tumours are caused by gene pesticide and insecticide resistant, can last long,
mutations which lead to uncontrolled cell sweeter, juicier, seedless and higher yield
divisions. Using genetic technology, such faulty c) cloning – producing offspring from a single
genes can be removed snd replaced with normal parent. Clones have same genetic makeup as
genes. Cancerous tumours will shrink after this parents/ identical to parents.
treatment which is known as gene therapy. Gene d)eg is tissue culture.
therapy will become common in the future to treat
thalassaemia, muscular dystroephy and
haemophilia.
Advantages and disadvantages of GE
Advantages Disadvantages
1) Able to know the causes of hereditary diseases 1) concern over the safety of GM food- may cause
and treat them allergies to some people
2) selective breeding and GE have led to 2) a risk of unethical scientists creating genetically
production of quality crops and livestock engineered microorganisms to be used as bio-
3)GM food have higher nutritional values weapons
4)Higher yield of crops and livestock means less 3)there is a possibility that genetically engineered
starvation in the world plants with herbicide tolerance may transfer the
5)Genetic technology is used in forensic science to characteristics to weeds (pollination via wind,
prove whether a suspect is guilty or innocent animals) producing super weeds which are
6)Endangered species can be cloned to prevent difficult to get rid of.
their extinction. 4)Genetic research is expensive.
7)genetically modified mosquitoes to lessen 5)concern over genetic constituent of GM food
dengue cases. among devout vegetarians and Muslims as GM
crops may contains genes of animals.

13. LS10 Natural disasters
Flood victims warned of water-borne diseases
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Flood victims should take precautionary measures when they return home from evacuation
centres to prevent being infected with water-borne diseases.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said typhoid; cholera and hepatitis A were found to
have increased during or after floods.
He said drinking contaminated water could lead to these diseases.
It was estimated that about 20% of the water-borne diseases were contracted after floods and people had to take
preventive measures, he said, reminding people to drink only boiled water.
“Parents should also see that their children do not play in flood waters as it will increase risk of wound infections,
dermatitis, conjunctivitis and ear, nose and throat infections,” he said.
He was speaking after opening the 'Healthy Living Programme’ held at Dewan Serbaguna, Taman Chai Leng, Prai
near here Saturday.
He also advised flood victims returning home to make sure their houses were thoroughly cleaned to prevent
infections.
The Star- December
Philippine:- The death toll of those who died in Philippine due to viral diseases after the sea storm has crossed the
150 while thousands others include in the affectees. Many areas are still inundated in the country.
The patients had no clue what hit them. They were wading in flood waters during Typhoon Ketsana; and some days
later, they suffered excruciating pain and could not urinate. Some could hardly breathe and were coughing blood.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by exposure to the excretion of rats, cats, dogs and other animals. The
bacteria are common in tropical countries with heavy rainfall and frequent flooding. Leptospirosis attacks the muscles,
causing extreme pain. It can adversely affect the brain, lungs, kidney or liver. Symptoms include stiffening of the
neck, bloody phlegm, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and scant, tea-colored urine.
Three weeks after typhoon Ketsana, wide areas have remained flooded in and around Manila, causing a surge in
cases of fatal leptospirosis in poor communities, health officials said. More than 150 people had died and nearly
2,000 leptospirosis patients remained in hospitals. Residents in flooded areas dismissed their athlete’s foot and open
wounds, unaware that a deadly disease was lurking in the flood waters.
About 1.7 million Filipinos are at risk of leptospirosis, prompting the health department to issue profilaxes in flood-
affected communities to prevent its spread. As flood waters in many communities have not receded, health officials
are expecting more cases of leptospirosis and other flood water-borne diseases like cholera and typhoid, the health
secretary said. Flood waters in Manila and the nearby provinces of Laguna and Rizal are expected to remain until
December.
Health authorities sought the help of the international community on Wednesday (October 21), to contain the
unprecedented outbreak. The health department said they needed close to $1 million U.S. dollars worth of medicines
to contain the disease.
Pakistan news –Oct 23 2009
GOOD LUCK!!!