The Department was established in 1967 as the Chair of Biology of Ankara University, Diyarbakır Faculty of Medicine, and in 1974 it merged with the Chair of Genetics and continued its activities under the name Medical Biology. The Chair of Genetics separated for a time and later merged again.

After the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) was established in 1981, the Chair of Medical Biology took the name Department of Medical Biology under the YÖK Law. The Division of Biostatistics later separated from the Department of Medical Biology, which had united the Divisions of Medical Biology, Medical Genetics and Biostatistics under one roof. Our Department of Medical Biology maintains its structure encompassing the Divisions of Medical Biology and Medical Genetics.

At the foundation of the Department of Medical Biology, the headship was held by Prof. Dr. Bedia BOZKURT; between 1969 and 1974 by Prof. Dr. Fethi AKTAN; between 1974 and 1980 by Prof. Dr. Ayşe BAŞARAN; between 1980 and 2012 by Prof. Dr. Turgay BUDAK; between 2012 and 2019 by Prof. Dr. Hilmi İSİ; and since 2019 it has been held by Prof. Dr. Mahmut BALKAN.

Within the Genetic Diagnosis Laboratory of the Department of Medical Biology, there are the Prenatal Diagnosis and Cytogenetics Laboratory and the Molecular Diagnosis and Molecular Genetics Laboratory. In the Department's Genetic Diagnosis Laboratory, the prenatal and postnatal diagnosis and follow-up of hereditary diseases are carried out.

In our center, diagnostic analyses are performed using cytogenetic, molecular cytogenetic and molecular genetic methods. In this way, the diagnosis of chromosomal diseases, certain single-gene diseases, congenital anomalies, multifactorial diseases and various syndromes is made. Based on this diagnosis, a genetic counseling service is provided that includes information on the probable courses of hereditary diseases, their recurrence risks, the risks for subsequent pregnancies and the possibilities of prenatal diagnosis.

Fields of Work

ROUTINE HEALTH SERVICES

1- CYTOGENETICS

• Peripheral blood culture and chromosome analysis
• Chromosome analysis in bone marrow
• Amniotic cell culture and chromosome analysis
• Cell culture and chromosome analysis are performed on CVS material, abortion material and various solid tissues
• Chromosome analysis in Cord Blood (Cordocentesis)

2- MOLECULAR CYTOGENETICS

3- MOLECULAR GENETICS