General Biology

4 Professors, 2 Associate Professors, 1 Dr.Res.Assist are recently working in Department of General Biology.  There are four research groups in the General Biology Department. These are; Entomology, Genetics, Mammals and Microbiology are research groups. Prof.Dr.Cengiz Kurtonur and Prof.Dr.Fisun Kaymak are retired faculty members who worked in the Department of Biology, Department of General Biology.

Entomology Research Group

Many studies on parasitic hymenoptera have been conducted under the coordinatorship of Prof. Dr. Murat YURTCAN. Studies have been focus  on lchneumonidae family taxonomy and ecology. Host and parasitoid relationship studies have also been carried out in insect biology laboratory. Publication of our team can be found at Murat YURTCAN's webpage. (http://personel-en.trakya.edu.tr/myurtcan/#.VwZNUjHLL3E)

Genetics Research Group

The researchers in this grup perform studies regarding population genetics and cytogenetics.

Population genetics laboratory, is equipped with modern genetics equipments and is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Selçuk YURTSEVER. The studies involve Cercopid spittlebugs (Cercopidae), Drosophila and Coccinellid (Coccinellidae) ladybirds. Population genetics studies involve joined works with Lisbon University, Biology Department in Portugal. In these studies, phylogenetics of different Philaenus populations in Europe and World are investigated by using mtDNA barcode. Besides, genetic basis of the dorsal colour/pattern polymorhism in several Cercopid species is another aspect regarding these insects.  On the other hand, the contents of the foam produced by the nymphs of spittlebugs has involved in the recent joined studies with Chemistry Department. Accordingly, there is a tend that certain chemicals particicularly some heavy metals found in the spittle may be used as indicator for changing environments where the spittlebugs live. Moreover, contents of the foam may have protective effect against microbial parasites and predators. Drosophila investigations involve genotoxic studies regarding the DNA damage caused by some food attidives particularly food colourings. The COMET and SMART tests are used to show mutagenic effects of these additives. Ladybird (Coccinellidae) investigations involve colour/pattern polymorphism in different species ocurring in different populations in Turkey.

Karyotype analysis from human peripheral blood and mice bone marrow can be made in coordinator of Prof. Dr. Fulya Dilek GOKALP in the cytogenetic research laboratory. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity studies are also conducted in the laboratory. Toxicity studies include test evaluations of effects of toxic substances (pesticides, heavy metals, etc.) on cell growth rates and cell damage. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity determination are done by using following methods;   chromosome aberration test (Lab. animals, leukocyte culture, plant stem cells, etc.), testing the determination of mitotic and meiotic abnormalities (plant tissue), micronucleus test (animal and plant tissue), sister chromatid exchange, FISH method, Comet assay (human leukocyte cells, fish tissue cells , etc. in insect larvae.), MTT assay, apoptosis. In addition, obtaining plant tissue extracts and investigating their antiproliferative activities on cancer tissue lines are among other research topics. Cancer tissue lines studies are carried out in the tissue culture laboratory.

Mammalian Animals Research Group

Studies on systematics of mammalian animals, mammalian ecology, caryology and reproduction biology are performed in mammalian research laboratuary by Assistant Prof. Dr. Beytullah Ozkan and Research Assistant Dr. Ebru Diker. There are a room that for rodentia species stay under stabil temperature and light and another room for scientific studies, so our laboratuary consist of two rooms. 

Microbiology Research Group

Prof. Dr. Ahmet ASAN and Assoc.Prof. Dr. Burhan ŞEN is doing to research this group. Research topics mainly include atmospher and soil microbiology, food microbiology, taxonomy of microorganisms. In addition, there is recently completed TUBITAK Project 1001 is of Dr. ASAN and still going on TUBITAK Project 1001 is of Dr. ŞEN). More detailed informations are present in Related researcher’s website.