Education For Bioethics Food And For Health By Biological And Natural Sciences

6.1. General Presentation

The research methods: laboratory experiments, laboratory practical work, observation, literature

review, debate, discussion, questionnaire.

6.2.Laboratory Experiments: Hipotheses, Materials, Procedures

An example of laboratory experiment of “ Biochemistry ” that contributed to education for

bioethics and health food of students is identification counterfeit food such as sausages and honey, the

methodology being practical-heuristic. Also, in the practical work of “ General Microbiology ” , by

practical work of microscopy, didactical observation, demonstration and heuristic conversation, students

were educated both professionally and for health food, to avoid food contamination, such as honey of

bees.

Students were involved in research conducted on biochemical examination (physical and

chemical), organoleptic examination and microbiological examination of a total of 100 different samples

of honey, on biochemical examination for identification the addition of starch, flour and derivatives

thereof in sausages, for identification of old food, adulterated.

One laboratory experiment to detect counterfeit honey by density. In forgery detection based on

density, we started from the assumption that all the products are natural and not fake. Natural honey is 1.4

times higher density than water and not dissolved. Adding honey in water. Most counterfeit has a lower

density and was dissolved.

Other laboratory experiment to detect counterfeit food were based on identification the addition of

starch, flour and derivatives thereof in meat product, i.e. salami and sausage. The students

prepared samples with meat product and in a test tube were added 5 ml. starch solution prepared, sitting

in the stand; was dropped on each slice of meat product from samples, using the dropper, a few drops of

iodine in potassium iodide and waited, observing the color for a few minutes; also, in parallel, the same

way was dripping and in the test tube with starch preparation and observing the coloration.

Another investigation by laboratory experiments was to identify old food, which are toxic to the

body based on determine the presence of ammonia in free using Nessler method in meat samples.

Principle consists of: the ammonia in free state of aqueous extract of the sample to be analyzed forms

with tetraiod-mercuriat-dipotassium, K2[HgI4], (Nessler reagent) a yellow-orange complex (oxidation of mercury ammonium). The hypothesis set forth before the onset of biochemistry, was: “If we determine

ammonia in free state using Nessler method in different samples of pork, we identify based on

precipitation reactions coloring and pork in various qualities.”

Materials used in conducting this investigation were: fresh pork, relatively prosperous and altered,

test tubes, pipette, and Nessler reagent.

Working mode consisted of: in a clean tube was introduced 1 ml. extract analyzed, then added

using a pipette to drop by drop the Nessler reagent (up to 10 drops), while the tube was shaken, watching

the color change, clarity of solution and precipitate formation.

7.1.Education For Bioetchics Food and Education for Health Food of Student: The Avoidance of Counterfeit Food, of Old Food, Altered

In determining the counterfeit food, i.e. the presence of starch in some meat products and honey,

the “energizing honey”, in determining the old, altered and toxic food the teaching methodologies were

practical-heuristic by laboratory experiments, and observation of results. Regular consumption of honey

is healthy, but unfortunately, there are many methods of falsification of the foodstuff, including sugar

boiling infusion of herbs until broth is brought to the consistency of honey, such as broth and sugar

flowers in saffron “honey energizing” sold for research quality honey.

Students involved in laboratory experiments for determination of counterfeit food, i.e. the diluted

honey, adding honey bees in water, it should fall to the bottom and not spread rapidly in water (Figure 1a). Most counterfeit has a lower density and was dissolved (Figure 1 b).

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The hypothesis was disproved, samples “energizing honey” and represents false, the product spills

rapidly in water.

Some meat products slices used in the present research stained in reddish brown color in the place

where dripping I2 + KI. The hypothesis has not been confirmed; the meat products researched are not containing starch and so there are not counterfeit, falsified.

The results of laboratory experiment for identification the old, altered and toxic meat were, as

follows. In tube with fresh meat extract solution did not change color or even its clarity even after adding

10 drops of Nessler reagent: the reaction is so negative, not detected ammonia in free state and the meat is

fresh (Figure 2 c). Tubes with relatively fresh meat extract solution became yellow color pronounced and

appeared a slight precipitate after adding 6 drops of Nessler reagent: so weak positive reaction, ammonia

is present in small amounts and relatively fresh meat (Figure 2 b). In tube with old extract meat, altered,

the solution became yellow and orange shade appeared an abundant precipitate of the same color, even

after adding the first 2-3 drops of Nessler reagent: so the reaction is positive, ammonia is present in large

amounts and the meat was old, altered (Figure 2 a). The hypothesis was confirmed, thus being identified various qualities of pork respectively fresh moss, moss relatively fresh and altered muscle.

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The laboratory experiments were completed with discussions and debates, the students responded

at some questions previously mentioned and adressed by professor to their. The students considered that

is not ethic to produce and to market counterfeit food, old food, altered food, toxic food, contamined

food, wich put the health of body in danger, the organism can get sick, being necessary the avoidance of

such foods and also, the education for bioethics food in correlation with education for health food.

7.2.Education for Health Food in “General Microbiology”

An example of education for health food of students through “General Microbiology” is the one

for the microbiological examination of food products such as honey of bees, that in apitherapy “constitute

natural remedies for treatment, with no adverse or harmful secondary effects...” (Petruţa, 2010, p. 374),

very good for health of body.

In the practical work of microbiology, through practical and heuristic methodology based on

practical work of microscopy, observation, demonstration and heuristic conversation, students were

educated both professionally and for health, to avoid food contamination, such as honey of bees.

Microbiological examination of samples for example microscopic observation of the honey of

bees did not reveal the presence of microorganisms, although there are possibilities of contamination

mentioned below. Yeasts are one of the few microorganisms which may multiply in honey, as they

tolerate acidity and large levels of sucrose. “Certain yeasts osmofile of the genus Zygosaccharomyces

support high concentrations of sugar which can cause fermentation of concentrated syrup of sugar and

honey.” (Bǎlǎucǎ & Atudosiei, 2004, p. 165).

Specialized literature indicates the presence of black mold in honeydew honey. Encountered

species belonging to the genera: Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, Chetonium, Penicillium, and so on. By

comparison with other unprocessed foods, the number of bacteria in honey is much lower (tens of

hundreds), the encountered species belonging to the genera: Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Enterobacter,

Flavobacterium, Micrococcus, and so on.

Honey of bees has the capacity to inhibit the multiplication of microorganism or destroying them,

for which microbiological examination of honey was not been a concern for specialists in the field.

However, a risk, even if it is insignificant, there is, reason for which some countries require that honey, to

be tested for its microbiological quality before placing it on the market.

The education for health by microbiological examination of food products through practical work

of microscopy is necessary for awareness of students about the danger of food contamination with

microorganisms, the illness of human, growth of morbidity and mortality by eating the contaminated

food, to beware of pathogens for their health well, to realize the importance of producing, marketing and

consumption by the population of uncontaminated food but also the the importance of withdrawal from

the market of contaminated food.

8.1.Conceptual Reconstruction of Education for Bioethics Food and Education for Health

Food

Bioethics education is the result of interference of many sciences, such as: “Biological Sciences”;

“Natural Sciences”, “Medical Sciences”, “Agricultural Sciences”, “Educational Sciences” and

“Psychology”; and so on. One side of bioethics education is education for bioethics food, focused on

proper food and nutrition.

In Didactics of Biology and Natural Sciences, namely in the instructive-educational process at

biological and natural disciplines, must exploited the information content in terms of education, including

education for bioethics food of students, that it is based on the mainly biological disciplines, i.e.

“Principles of genetics and GMO”, “General Microbiology”, “Genetics of microorganisms”, and natural

disciplines, i.e. “Biochemistry”, on the one hand, and on the other hand is based on “Educational

Sciences” and “Psychology” (Figure 3 ).

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In Didactics of Biologyand Natural Sciences, namely the instructive-educational process in

biological and natural disciplines, must exploited the information content in terms of education, inclusive

education for health and bioethics food.

A component of education is and the education of health with the side of education for health food

that materializes the professional education of students from faculties and specialization on food domain.

The sciences on which is based on education for health food of students are: “Educational Sciences”,

“Psychology”, “Biological Sciences”, i.e. “General Microbiology”, “Natural Sciences”, i.e.

“Biochemistry”; and so on. As a result of scientific research undertaken on education for health food and

bioethics food of students, we identified and applied processuality education for health food and bioethics

food that is done in four stages informative-formative, successive, interconnected and interdependent :

cognitive stage, theory stage is to familiarize students with the concepts of biochemistry, microbiology, GMOs, etc. on the basis of their teaching by the professor;

stage of awareness of the need and importance of knowledge of biochemistry, microbiology, GMOs, etc. food knowledge both for students of food profile, as well as for their daily life in order to avoid infection, for use of the information in the personal favor of the fellows personal, the environment, in a constructive and positive sense;

stage of formation some attitudes of professional values and health food; involving affective-emotional training of students, positive-affective guiding to beneficial use of information in “Biochemistry”, “Microbiology”, “Principles of genetics and GMO” etc; which is an affective-emotional stage;

skills and professional-food habits and behaviors of health food, capacity of practical action in the profession and daily life correlate with public food, family, individual, the will to act with a sense of professional responsibility and health in everyday life family, personal and social-the stage with praxiological function, pragmatic stage.

8.2.Education for Bioethics Food and for Health Food and GMO (Genetically Modified

Organisms)

Bioethics food focuses on proper food and nutrition. At the courses and practical works of biological

and natural sciences of students from faculties food, can be discussed / debated controversial problems as

counterfeit food, GMOs, food additives, the didactical methodology being interactive-heuristic.

“The interactive methods/techniques are applied successfully in the educational practice, both abroad

and in our country, the didactic activities becoming this way more attractive…” (Petruţa, 2013, p. 649).

The Bioethics food controversial issues can be discussed, debated with students at the scientific

contents of the “Principles of genetics and GMO”. Bioethics food issues is vast, several examples are

presented below, the students of the food specializations within Bioterra Univesity from Bucharest

discussed in correlation with education for bioethics food, in the didactical research laboratory.

The etymology of the discussion is the Latin word “discussio” suggesting that the image of a

shaking building to see if it is pretty solid. “When it is broad and thorough discussion on an issue (often

controversial and still open), aiming to influence students' beliefs, consciousness, behavior, it is the form

of debate.” (Ciobanu, 2009, p. 331).

Through discussion, students determine that the GMO or transgenic organisms are organisms

created artificially in the laboratory only, crops or animals apparently normal, which, by means of genetic

engineering techniques were transferred genes from other species: viruses, bacteria, plants,

animals and even human genes to confer new characteristics, they may be toxic, extremely

dangerous to human health and can cause many diseases. “The best known plants until now as GMO are

maize, potatoes and soybeans.” (Mencinicopschi, 2008, p. 91). Students discuss numerous examples of

GMO plants, such as potatoes resistant to Colorado beetle, genetically modified maize MON810 resistant

to worm piercing, new genetically modified soybean, tomato with delayed ripening and high solid content

and so on. The discussions and debates, teaching methodology being interactive and heuristic, were worn

as answers to questions previously mentioned asked by the teacher to students, they argued the toxicity of

GMOs, as follow.

A potato genetically modified is a transgenic being, in order to obtain it, the genetic material

encoding a toxin from the bacteria Bacillus turingiensis was taken, a being very different in the level of

structural and functional organization of potato and has been introduced in genetic material from potato

(Solanum tuberosus). And so, the potato starts to produce a toxin which kills Colorado potato beetle. But

one of the natural laws of living is that species do not mix one to each other; they can evolve.

Education for bioethics food must eliminate this contradiction, so that experts in the field to signal

the states authorities about the risks of production, marketing and consumption of GMOs, in such a way

as to be exceeded political and economic barriers to the detriment of the species reproductive barriers and

be aware of all business decision makers, whatever the level can increase the degree of morbidity and

mortality of the human population. As some food additives which were until recently harmless to human

health and GMOs could be disastrous for human health in the future. An argument in discussion and

debate is the exposure of the negative results of scientific studies. For example, one of the numerous

scientific studies with negative results made on genetically modified food was conducted by the

researcher Dr. Arpad Pusztai which fed the laboratory mice with genetically modified potatoes, the

laboratory mice fed this way after this experiment they have smaller brain, liver and testicles, deficient

immune system and a large number of pre-cancerous cells in many tissues of the body.

Through genetic engineering, the genetically modified maize MON810 resistant to worm piercing

contains a gene from a soil bacterium (Bacillus thuringiensis) that produces a toxin that acts as a pesticide

that confer resistance to worm piercing maize. Scientific studies have shown that after repeated

consumption of GMOs is irreversible negative effects on medium and long term on human health.

Even if scientists from France, Italy, England showed that GMOs have adverse effects on human

health in some countries of the world are supported, such as the U.S. and other European countries,

including Romania, where he obtained since 1998. Are states of the world, political - economic and

financial reasons, supports and promotes GMOs in food and nutrition human population’s risks to human

health because it is known that negative effects do not occur acutely, but medium and long term manifest.

The students considered that should have a word to say on the issue of GMOs and that an

education for bioethics food is required. It is unethical to produce GMO and then to sell it, without

knowing their effects on health in the future, knowing that these GMO do not produce an acute effect. But

even more immoral is to produce and commercialize GMO, whose negative effects have been proven by

scientific research in the field. All these only for money, unethically, hanging the “balance of judgment”

over financial gain and not for the human life and the normal evolution of life on Earth.

“Through bioethical education, young people understand that throughout their lives they have to

act responsibly towards science and humanity, regardless of their professional goals and career objectives

in the future.” (Iancu, 2014 b, p.74)