Science Speaks
Gene Editing, Now Easier to Learn in Filipino, Cebuano, and Ilocano

Gene Editing, Now Easier to Learn in Filipino, Cebuano, and Ilocano

By Janine Cyren Escasura

April 29, 2026

Gene editing, what? Ano ito? Unsa man? Ania daytoy?

Gene editing has made significant strides in biotechnology, opening new possibilities for food, agriculture, and health. In 2023, the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, Inc. (ISAAA, Inc.) released Biotech sQuizBox: All About Gene Editing to help make this complex topic more accessible to the general public. This interactive, accordion-style booklet was produced to answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) about gene editing, including the following:

What is gene editing?
How does gene editing work?
What is the difference between genetic engineering and gene editing?
Is gene editing safe?
What are the gene-edited products in the market?

This publication is tailored to inform secondary school students about gene editing. It introduces key concepts in crop biotechnology, including the history, development, and benefits of biotech crops. On the other side, readers are encouraged to test their knowledge through a variety of interactive quizzes and activities.

Beyond its informative content, Biotech sQuizBox: All About Gene Editing doubles as an activity booklet that promotes “entertainment-education.” Learners can enjoy exciting and collaborative exercises such as DNA extraction, puzzles, word games, and even an activity imagining banana bread made from gene-edited bananas. These activities are designed for both individual exploration and group learning in classroom settings.

The publication was developed by the ISAAA Global Knowledge Center on Biotechnology and illustrated by Stephanie Bravo-Semilla, a cartoonist from the Philippine Daily Inquirer and a second-prize winner of the BiotechTOONS: A Contest for Cartoonists on Biotechnology organized by ISAAA Inc. and partners in 2011.

To further broaden its reach, ISAAA Inc., through its Know the Science project with the Department of Agriculture - Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO), has made the booklet available in three major Philippine languages: Filipino, Cebuano, and Ilocano. These translations were made possible through the efforts of Claudine B. Tapel, Destin Kit Manuel, and Robert A. Natividad.

With these new translations, Biotech sQuizBox: All About Gene Editing becomes even more accessible to learners across the Philippines—encouraging curiosity, improving science literacy, and making biotechnology easier to understand in local contexts.

Download the Filipino, Cebuano, and Ilocano translations of Biotech sQuizBox: All About Gene Editing from the ISAAA website.