One of the best descriptions of Molecular Biology ever is the one, "Molecular biology implies not so much a technique as an approach, an approach from the viewpoint of the so-called basic sciences with the leading idea of searching below the large-scale manifestations of classical biology for the corresponding molecular plan. It is concerned particularly with the forms of biological molecules, and with the evolution, exploitation and ramification of those forms in the ascent to higher and higher levels of organization. Molecular biology is predominantly three-dimensional and structural—which does not mean, however, that it is merely a refinement of morphology. It must at the same time inquire into genesis and function", written by William Astbury (who made the first step in elucidating the structure of DNA using X-Ray) in Nature in 1961. To simplify his description, molecular biology is the branch of biology which studies molecular basis of cellular activities and functions of living organisms as well as the chemical reactions occurred during these cellular activities.
Nowadays, molecular biology rapidly grows and develops by incorporating other disciplines such as microbiology, biochemistry, cellular metabolism, genetics etc. It arises as a discipline of applying biological techniques and principles of engineering to all kinds of living organisms in order to solve many of the problems encountered in different areas such as health, industry, industrial agriculture etc.
In summary, molecular biology is essentially an approach of utilizing the rapidly developing techniques of microbiology, biochemistry, cellular biology and genetics to be able to find solutions for the problems encountered while studying with living organisms.
Lastly, to answer a frequently asked question about the job opportunities for the graduates of molecular biology, it should be emphasized that molecular biologists have chance to find positions especially in below-listed fields:
1. Academic career in national / international universities
2. Industries making biotechnology-oriented productions
3. Clinical medicine, forensic science and pharmaceutical industry
4. Production and marketing of required materials in genetical engineering.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Education of all courses in this department (%100) is in Turkish.