In the courses delivered at the Department of Biology and Chemistry, students acquire knowledge and skills from the fields of biology and chemistry, which are necessary for understanding of the complex processes within the human organism, and which are fundamental for understanding various problems in the area of diagnostics and treatment in dental medicine.
In the Medical Biology course, students are familiarized with the basic notions and concepts of modern biological science, essential for understanding the mechanisms fundamental for the functioning of a human organism. Besides acquiring knowledge about molecular basis of biological processes within a cell and genetic mechanisms, genomics and proteomics, students are simultaneously trained in critical thinking about the notions gained, which facilitates understanding of other areas of dental medicine, mainly histology and anatomy.
In the Medical Chemistry course, students gain knowledge from the area of chemistry, with the emphasis on chemical processes in oral cavity. Students gain knowledge about chemical structure of biomolecules, energy changes and chemical changes during their transformation. This enables both integration ofknowledge from biological science and understanding of the processes and mechanisms of metabolic control, necessary for understanding physiology and pharmacology.
Within the course Basics of a Research Paper(Undergraduate University study of Physiotherapy Orahovica) students gain knowledge about statistical arguments and evaluations. IT knowledge is also expanded, since contemporary development of medical sciences, including physiotherapy, should consist of both a professional and a scientific approach to the field of study. In contemporary medicine, a physiotherapist has the following professional roles: an educator, a clinician and a researcher. Evidence-based medicine can only be understood by combining science and technology.
As a part of the Department of Biology and Chemistry, the Institute for Biology has been established. It consists of two laboratories: Laboratory for Histology, Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Laboratory for Andrology and Biology of Human Reproduction.
The Institute for Biology is focused on the following areas of research:
- basic research in the area of biomedicine and health system,
- histology research on animal and human models,
- research in the area of molecular genetics,
- study of human reproduction problems,
- research in the area of andrology.