About the Department
Biology is the scientific discipline that examines the structures, functions, and relationships among living organisms. Through the study of organisms at the molecular level, Molecular Biology and Genetics emerge, along with advancements in genetic technologies and biotechnological applications.
Program Objective:
The objective of the Molecular Biology and Genetics program is to provide education and conduct research in the fields of Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biotechnology.
Key Courses in the Program:
The Molecular Biology and Genetics program covers a wide range of subjects, including Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Proteomics, Microbiology, Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics, and Genetic Engineering.
Graduates' Titles and Roles:
Graduates of the Molecular Biology and Genetics program are awarded the title of "Biologist." Molecular biologists work in hospitals, health protection institutes, breeding centers, pharmaceutical industries, and laboratories, where they particularly focus on the examination, understanding, and improvement of cellular structures and genetic makeup.
Areas of Employment:
Molecular biologists can become academicians in universities' faculties of science, medicine, agriculture, pharmacy, and veterinary sciences. They can also work as researchers in official institutions like TÜBİTAK and the pharmaceutical industry, or take on managerial roles in various healthcare organizations' laboratories.
Academic Staff and Research:
The department comprises 8 faculty members, including 4 Professors, 2 Associate Professors, 1 Assistant Professor, and 1 Research Assistant. Their research areas include:
- Isolation, identification, and molecular characterization of bacteria, especially thermophilic ones, from various sources.
- Isolation, production, purification, and characterization of enzymes with biotechnological significance derived from microbial sources.
- Enzyme production using genetic engineering techniques.
- Mutagen detection using the Ames Test, isolation of microorganisms from environments contaminated with various pollutants, and microbial degradation studies.
- Research on cancer cells and bacterial enzyme-mediated "prodrug" activation in chemotherapeutic cancer treatments.
Graduate Education:
The Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, as part of the Institute of Science, offers Master's and Ph.D. programs for postgraduate students.