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Department of Biological Sciences
The Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) was established in 1997 following the amalgamation of the Departments of Animal Biology, Biochemistry and Microbiology and Plant Biology. At that time, the Molecular Biology program was established and inaugurated. Since then, the department has grown and expanded its curriculum and programs to contribute to a variety of minor degrees, including Forensic Science, Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences.
The department is the largest of all departments in the Faculty of Science and Kuwait University as it offers five major degrees and numerous service courses. The degrees offered include a B.Sc in Animal Biology, Plant Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology.
The department also offers graduate degrees (M.Sc) in those majors in addition to a more recently developed M.Sc degree in Biotechnology. In addition, it contributes to interdisciplinary M.Sc degrees, such as the Joint degree in Molecular Biology and M.Sc in Forensic Sciences. Currently, there are 58 academic staff members, most of whom are newly joined staff,.
The current ranks of the academic staff are 39 assistant professors, 12 associate professors and 8 full professors. There are also 8 mission candidates who are expected to complete their PhD and join in the coming five years, bringing new expertise and technologies to the department. Most academic staff members are research-active and accept both undergraduate and graduate students on their research teams through their enrollment in the research project course and thesis project, respectively.
Many of the courses offered by the department include laboratory sessions in which the 36 teaching assistants supervise these sessions. There are also 40 technical staff and 12 administrative staff. The department has now transferred to the new campus in Sabah Al-Salem University City, which consists of more than 70 state-of-the-art teaching laboratories and specialized scientific units that can facilitate the development of new courses in line with the latest developments in biological sciences.
Biology Programs
Animal Biology Program
This program prepares students for jobs in animal biology, livestock,
environmental protection, and supported medical services; the Animal Biology
Program also aims to promote a biological culture that fortifies students' capacity
for autonomous scientific thought and creativity. The program's courses
(undergraduate & postgraduate) in animal biology cover a wide range of topics,
including biodiversity and classification, evolution, ecology (desert and marine)
embryology, parasitology, entomology, animal physiology, the relationship
between form and function and environmental adaptation, and the influence of
genetic composition and environmental factors on animal behaviour and
population dynamics. It also emphasises on the local history of animal diversity in
Kuwait, how biogeographical features, and environmental tolerance govern the
distribution of local fauna.
Plant Biology Program
Plant Biology is the study of plant life forms, including its external and internal
structure, classification and flora, the functions performed by plants, plant growth
and propagation, plant tissue culture and hybridization, plant genetics and crop
improvements by means of classical plant breeding and plant biotechnology. Plant
Biology extends to include the study of algae and plants living in aqueous
environments, plant ecology and soil science. The program also presents the
importance of economics plants and diseases affecting plants. The Plant Biology
program expands to offer a minor in Agricultural Botany Program specialization
and courses in agriculture, such as Horticulture, Crop production, and Agroecology.
Microbiology Program
Microbiology is an important field of biological sciences with growing interest due
to continuous developments within its various aspects. Microbiology is concerned
with the study of microbial diversity (Archaea, Bacteria, Fungi, Algae and Protozoa
along with Viruses) as well as the study of microbial identification techniques. Also,
it deals with the study of microbial activities in air, soil, water and extreme
environments including their roles in nutrient cycles, biodegradation and
bioremediation. Moreover, microbiology includes the study of microbial plant
diseases, food-borne pathogens, microbial industrial and biotechnological
applications as well as various microbial interactions with the effector mechanisms
of the immune system.
Biochemistry Program
The study of biological processes using the principles of chemistry, physics and
mathematics with the purpose of understanding the functioning/malfunctioning
of living systems and solving scientific and medical problems.
Biotechnology Program
The Department of Biological Sciences (College of Science) offers a Master of Science program in Biotechnology thesis option only. Both part-time and full-time students are admitted to this program. The program will involve interdisciplinary training with both theory and practical experience in biotechnology, genomics, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, plant and animal biotechnology and stem cell technology as well as biological patency, commercialization and regulation.
Molecular Biology (Joint Degree Program)
Molecular biology is one of the most modern sciences in general and biology in
particular. This science is concerned with studying the foundations of biological
processes in the cell at the molecular level by studying biomolecules such as DNA,
RNA, and proteins, which play an important role in determining genetic
characteristics and cellular functions through the use of many advanced
techniques to isolate and analyze these compounds to understand their structure
and functions. It also uses techniques to know the genetic code that makes up each
compound, which helps in understanding its composition, shape, and effect on the
cell and its functions, and thus on the organism as a whole.
The Molecular Biology program offers multiple theoretical and laboratory courses,
including molecular genetics, molecular cell science, molecular immunology, and
bioinformatics.
Molecular biology applications play an important role in many fields, including
medical sciences, forensics, biotechnology, and genetic engineering.