Investigation of the Biology Undergraduate Curriculum in Türkiye Through the Concept of Biopiracy

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate and examine the undergraduate curricula of biology departments through the concept of biopiracy. The population of the study consists of undergraduate biology departments in Turkey. Purposive sampling method was used in accordance with the purpose of the research. The sample of the research includes 57 biology departments and 9 biology teaching departments. In the research, document analysis technique, one of the qualitative research methods, was used while collecting data. The data were obtained from the courses and their contents and course information packages regarding the concept of biopiracy and related coded concepts in the curriculum of the biology department and biology teaching department. Conceptual content analysis method, which is a type of content analysis, was used to analyze the data obtained. In the analysis of the research, findings regarding the coding were presented in tables and graphs through the MAXQDA 24 qualitative research program. As a result of the research, it was determined that there was no course directly related to biopiracy in both departments examined, but there was only a course on biosmuggling in a university with a biology department. As a result, it can be argued that although many courses on traditional knowledge and environmental problems are included in the biology undergraduate curriculum, courses on the protection of living species through intellectual property and law are insufficient in the light of developments in biotechnology. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.