History

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics was established with a teaching staff consisting of 5 Professors, 2 Associate Professors, 4 Assistant Professors and 8 Research Assistants on 21.02.2003. Starting from the 2003-2004 academic year, 30 students were admitted at the undergraduate level. Currently, it continues its education to undergraduate students whose number has increased to 50, students in the Molecular Biology and Genetics Master's and Doctorate programs opened in the Institute of Science, and foreign students coming within the framework of the ERASMUS program with 10 Professors, 2 Associate Professor, 7 Assistant Professors and 6 Research Assistants. 

Although the establishment date is quite recent, the origins of our department's current level in molecular biology and genetics can be traced back to the University reform in 1933. According to the records, when a new building was required for the "Plant and Zoo Institutes" within the Faculty of Science, the foundation of the "Institutes of Biology" was laid on March 3, 1935 in the Süleymaniye district, and On June 4, 1937, education and training services began to be provided in the building. Later, two floors of this building were demolished and the "Botany and Genetics Chair" (previously named "Pharmacobotany and Genetics") served in this building until the "Molecular Biology Department" was established in 1982. The "Molecular Biology and Genetics Department" formed by the transformation of this Department is located in the building opposite the Faculty of Science in Vezneciler.

Ord. prof. Dr. Alfred Heilbronn and Ord. prof. Dr. Curt Kosswig, scientists who came from Germany within the scope of the university reform to Science Faculty, have done studies and directed doctoral dissertations in the field of genetics. "Principia Genetica", which they wrote together and contains the product of their 25 years of work, is the first genetics book written in Turkey. HEILBRONN A ve KOSSWIG C. (1947) Principia Genetica. “Kalıtım Biliminin Temel Anlamları ve Temel Vakıalar”. (Trans. Dr. Sara Akdik). İst. Üniv. Yay.No.322, İstanbul.

Ord. prof. Dr. Alfred HEILBRONN (1885-1961). A. Heilbronn, born in Fürth (Bavaria), completed his higher education in Munich Ludwig-Maximilian University in 1910 by studying Natural Sciences (Botany, Physics, Chemistry) and a minor in philosophy and music. After working as a scientific assistant at the Landwirtschaft in Berlin and at the Institut Oceanographique in Monaco, and in research-related positions in Berlin, he became Associate Professor in 1914, Professor in 1919, and was appointed Director of the Institute of Genetics of the same University in 1923. During World War I, he was awarded a medal from the “Verdienst Kreuz für Kriegshilfe” institution in 1914. In October 1933, he started to work as the Director of Istanbul University, Faculty of Science, "Pharmacobotany and Genetics Institute". He gave the first Genetics Course to biology students at our university. During these years, he also started genetic research. Ferns (Heilbronn, 1935), Mercurialis (Heilbronn and Başarman, 1937), Bryonia (Başarman, 1939; Heilbronn and Başarman, 1942; Heilbronn, 1953; Bilge, 1955), Digitalis (Heilbronn and Yakar, 1942; Yakar, 1949) were the most studied plants in that period. Sex determination, especially in plants, has been one of the most intensively researched subjects. Prof. Heilbronn was fluent in French, English, Dutch, Latin, Italian, Ancient Greek, and Turkish.

Ord. Prof. Dr. Curt KOSSWIG (1903-1982). C. Kosswig, born in Berlin, after receiving education in philosophy, natural sciences, especially zoology and genetics at the University of Berlin, he completed his doctorate in genetics in 1927 and became an assistant at the Institute of Zoology at the University of Münster. In 1930, he became an associate professor at the Institute of Zoology at the Faculty of Philosophy and Natural Sciences at the University of Münsterand. He was appointed as a professor in the field of general biology and zoology at the Braunschweig Technical College in 1933. He came to Turkey in 1937 and was appointed as the Director of the Faculty of Science Zoology Institute. He has been the director of Baltalimanı Hydrobiology Research Institute since 1951. He established the Manyas Lake National Park (Manyas Lake Bird Sanctuary). His scientific studies include comparative genetics in mammals, inheritance of sex, intersexuality in fish, tumor inheritance, gene manifestation in foreign genotypes, evolution, and the theory of preadaptation. Kosswig, who went to Hamburg University in 1955, returned to Istanbul for a short period of 5 months and continued her duty. Later he left the job at the Faculty of Science, and he worked as a visiting emeritus professor at Erzurum Atatürk University in 1969.

Prof. Dr. Sara AKDIK (1897-1982). Sara Akdik, born in Crete, graduated from Istanbul German High School in 1918. As the first female student of Istanbul Darülfünûnu, she completed her education at the Faculty of Science, Department of Natural Sciences, in 1921. In 1934, she started to work as an assistant at Istanbul University, Faculty of Science, İspençiyari Nebatat (Pharmacobotany) and Genetics Institute. She was appointed as an Associate Professor in 1937 and received the title of Doctor of Science in 1945. Between 1947-1948, she conducted genetic studies with the famous Swedish Geneticist Professor Müntzig and published the results of these studies in three articles. Sara Akdik, who was promoted to Professor in 1948, Prof. After Heilbronn's retirement, on 28 May 1955, he was appointed to the Chair of Pharmacobotany and Genetics at the Faculty of Science. Akdik directed 8 doctoral studies during this period and taught General Botany, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Cytology, Human Genetics, Evolution, Plant Geography and Pharmacobotany courses. She was retired on 13 July 1973. Prof. Akdik knew German, French, English and Greek, and understood Russian at a level that would follow the articles.

Prof. Dr. Emine BİLGE (1926-1978). E. Bilge, born in Erzurum, completed his Zoology- Botany education in Istanbul University Faculty of Science in 1950. In the same year, she joined the Pharmacobotany and Genetics Chair (which later became the Botany and Genetics Chair) as an assistant. She completed her doctoral thesis named “Morphological, anatomical and genetic studies on Bryonia macrosytilis” in 1954 under the direction of Heilbronn. She earned the title of Associate Professor in 1962 with the thesis "Morphogenetic changes caused by streptomycin in Vicia faba plants", and in 1970 she became Professor with her thesis titled "Cytological effects of streptomycin on Vicia faba plants”. She taught genetics to botany students since 1965 and wrote the book "Genetics" in 1969. There are also textbooks named "Evolution" and "Genetic Problems". In 1972, she initiated the first experimental mutation studies on plants in Turkey with her research project called "Basic Genetic Studies for the Production of Superior Barley Varieties" (1972-1975 TÜBİTAK-TOAG/162), and thus pioneered the use of genetics in the application areas in our country. She passed away at a very young age in a period when her academic activities were most intense. Prof. Bilge made very important contributions to the training of geneticists including Prof. Dr. Güler Temizkan ve Prof. Dr. Nermin Gözükırmızı.

Prof. Dr. Melekper ÖKTAY (1924-1985). M. Öktay, born in Izmir, graduated from the Zoology Department of Istanbul University in 1946. In the same year, she started to work as an assistant in the Department of Zoology and received the title of Professor in 1966. She studied at the Zoological Institute of Munich and the Institute of Zoology in Hamburg. She has studies on color pattern genetics and morphology in Xiphophorus maculatatus. She also worked on the genetic basis of sex differences in the same organism. Prof. Öktay is the first lecturer to teach molecular genetics at our faculty.

Prof. Dr. Gönül Bara (1931-2007). G. Bara, born in Istanbul, graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology and Botany in 1955. In the same year, she entered the Faculty's II. Chair of Zoology as an assistant and earned the titles of "Dr.Rer.Nat." in 1959, Associate Professor in 1967 and Professor in 1975. In addition, she received the "Science Award" of the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey in 1975. In 1982, she was appointed as the Head of Molecular Biology Department. She continued this duty until her retirement on 18.7.1990. She has researched on steroid enzymes. Prof. Bara played an important role in the institutionalization of Molecular Biology and Genetics education programs at our University, enabled the start of graduate programs in the field of biotechnology and directed young researchers to this field.

Prof. Dr. Metin BARA (1929-2000). M. Bara, born in Istanbul, graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Science, Botany Bachelor's degree, and became an assistant at the General Botany Department in 1953, received the title of Doctor (Dr.rer.nat.) in 1957, and was appointed Associate Professor in 1963 and Professor in 1971. He served as the Dean of the Faculty of Science between 1982-1987. He was a member of TUBITAK Scientific Board between 1979-1987. Prof. Bara was one of the pioneers in the introduction and development of the concept of modern biotechnology in our country and made important contributions to the development of the field of molecular biology in our Faculty. Endless thanks to all of our professors, who are no longer with us, who contributed greatly to the foundation of molecular biology and genetics and to our upbringing until the establishment of our department.