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Biotechnology and Biodiversity

Can be defined as the variety among living organisms on Earth, which includes animals, Plants,
microbes and the habitats of which they are a part.

Biodiversity or Biological Diversity: sum of all the different species of animals, plants, fungi, and
microbial organisms living on Earth and the variety of habitats in which they live. Scientists
estimate that upwards of 10 millionand some suggest more than 100 milliondifferent
species inhabit the Earth. Each species is adapted to its unique niche in the environment, from
the peaks of mountains to the depths of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and from polar ice caps
to tropical rain forests

Genetic biodiversity
All forms of life on earth, whether microbes, plants, animals, or human beings, contain genes.
Genetic diversity is the sum of genetic information contained in the genes of individual plants,
animals, and micro-organisms. Each species is the storehouse of an immense amount of genetic
information in the form of traits, characteristics, etc. The number of genes ranges from about
1000 in bacteria to more than 400 000 in many flowering plants. Each species consists of many
organisms and virtually no two members of the same species are genetically identical.

Agricultural Biodiversity
Agricultural diversity can be divided into two categories: intraspecific diversity, which
includes the genetic variety within a single species, like the potato (Solanum tuberosum)
that is composed of many different forms and types (e.g.: in the U.S. we might compare
russet potatoes with new potatoes or purple potatoes, all different, but all part of the
same species, S. tuberosum).
The other category of agricultural diversity is called interspecific diversity and refers to
the number and types of different species. Thinking about this diversity we might note
that many small vegetable farmers grow many different crops like potatoes, and also
carrots, peppers, lettuce etc.
Agricultural diversity can also be divided by whether it is planned diversity or
associated diversity. This is a functional classification that we impose and not an
intrinsic feature of life or diversity. Planned diversity includes the crops which a farmer
has encouraged, planted or raised (e.g.: crops, covers, symbionts and livestock, among
others), which can be contrasted with the associated diversity that arrives among the
crops, uninvited (e.g.: herbivores, weed species and pathogens, among others).

The State of Philippine Biodiversity
At least 2,000 fish species are found in the Philippines.
12,000 plant species and 960 animal species are found in Philippine Forests.
Of the 960 animal species, over 500 are birds and 167 are mammals.
About 98 of mammal species are endemic to the Philippines.
There are about 170,000 faunal species, most of which are insects and are mostly
unidentified.
About 488 coral species in 78 genera are found in the Philippines out of the 500 known
coral species worldwide.
There are about 22 principal species of beach vegetation, 10 of which are considered
dominant.
There are 61 national parks, 2 marine parks, and 8 game refuges and bird sanctuaries,
and 10 wilderness areas covering an area of 1.4 million hectares or 4% of the total land
area of the Philippines.

Reasons for loss of biodiversity
The single greatest threat to global biodiversity is the human destruction of natural habitats.
Introduction of non-native species and genetic stocks, new and introduced plants, microbes,
animals.

Preserving Biodiversity
As the scope and significance of biodiversity loss become better understood, positive steps to
stem the tide of the sixth extinction have been proposed and, to some extent, adopted. Several
nations have enacted laws protecting endangered wildlife. An international treaty known as the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) went
into effect in 1975 to outlaw the trade of endangered animals and animal parts. In the United
States, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was enacted in 1973 to protect endangered or
threatened species and their habitats. The Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 and ratified by more than 160 countries, obligates governments to take
action to protect plant and animal species.
Strategies to address biodiversity include:
Selective use of mixed cropping or
Combined use of conventional and GM technology
Biotechnology can be applied to study and conserve biodiversity
Molecular Markers can be used in taxonomy to study individual strains of organisms or
to identify species.
Use of genetic markers in plant and animal breeding.
Plant and animal cell and tissue culture can rescue endangered species.
Cryopreservation technology can store germplasm indefinitely.















Biotechnology
and Biodiversity




To be passed by: Yolores, Kristine Marie C.
Bs Psychology- 2B

To be passed to: Maam Milagros Viado

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