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4 BIO LIFE January – March 2005
A sunrise industry
THE evidence is in. Biotechnology
offers:
• more food with better quality
• products to combat specific medical
conditions
In December 2002, the Philippine
Government approved the commercial
planting of genetically modified corn.
This corn called Bt corn has built-in resistance
to infestation by the Asiatic
corn borer. Before December 2002, the
Asiatic corn borer was a major problem
in corn production. Since the borer
resides inside the plant, it cannot be
easily controlled by insecticide sprays.
In cases of heavy infestation, up to 80
percent of the crop has been reported
to have been lost. With Bt corn, the
corn produced is unlikely to contain
aflatoxin, because the kernels are not
attacked by corn borers. Aflatoxin is a
by-product of molds which grow on
kernels damaged by borers. It has been
identified as one of the most potent
carcinogens or cancer-inducing agents.
In the early 1980s, scientists successfully
produced human insulin in bacteria
called E. coli by transferring the human
gene which codes for insulin into
the bacteria. Since recombinant human
insulin entered the market in the 1980s,
virtually all diabetics have shifted to this
type of insulin. Previously, insulin-dependent
diabetics obtained insulin purified
from pigs and cows. Insulin from
these animals differ slightly from human
insulin. The differences sometimes
Benigno
D.
Peczon,
Ph.D.
have resulted in allergic reactions. Beginning
this year, 2004, Filipinos can
purchase human growth hormone produced
using modern biotechnology.
Heretofore, only minute amounts of
human growth hormone could be collected
and purified from its traditional
sources. Proper administration of this
hormone can address medical concerns
such as physical growth which was almost
impossible to successfully address
in the past.
More innovation are in the pipeline.
Using genes obtained from daffodils
which code for the production of the
precursor of Vitamin A, scientists
working in the Philippines are in the
process of transferring these genes to
local rice varieties to create Golden Rice.
Vitamin A deficiency can result in blindness.
At the Philippine Rice Research
Institute in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Filipino
scientists are performing research
to create rice which is resistant to bacterial
blight. Bacterial blight is one of
the more significant causes of substan-
tial yield loss in rice production. Filipino
researchers at UP Los Baños are
developing papaya which is resistant to
viral ringspot disease. Viruses from this
disease severely stunt productivity, virtually
wiping out papaya plantations. A
host of other researches aimed at improving
Philippine agriculture and industry
are in various stages of development
at places such as BIOTECH at
UP Los Baños, UP Diliman, Leyte State
University, Central Luzon State University,
etc.
Research is also being performed in
the health sector at various places, including
UST, the Marine Science Institute
at UP Diliman, UP Manila, and the
Centro Escolar University. Filipino scientists
are involved in scientific approaches
to combat cancer and AIDS.
Research on edible vaccines is ongoing.
This would obviate the need for injections
which many, particularly children,
find disagreeable.
Clearly, millions of Filipinos have
benefited from the innovations already
available. Millions more will benefit as
innovations progress from the research
stage to commercialization.
Unfounded fears may delay, or
worse, put a straightjacket on innovations.
While there are risks in any innovation,
the core idea is containment of
risks. Innovators pursue research and
development and government agencies
create and implement policy with maximum
focus on human safety and regard
for the environment. Each and every
innovation in biotechnology is examined
on a case-by-case basis.
The Biotechnology Coalition of the
Philippines, Inc. (BCP), the membership
of which consists of researchers,
farmers, government functionaries, institutional
employees, private citizens,
as well as established institutions, was
established to ensure the safe and responsible
use of biotechnology. BCP
exists to serve as your ally in progress
and the betterment of the Philippine
way of life – through judicious utilization
of biotechnology.
Dr. Benigno Peczon is the president and
CEO of the Biotechnology Coalition of the
Philippines