Department of Biology was established in 1953.At the beginning the chair’s staff consisted of a head of the chair, three assistants, three lab technicians and one laboratory assistant. The first Head of the Department was Professor Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Finkelstein.
In 1956 year as an associate professor of Biology and Genetics began work Lusia Vladimirovna Kelstein. Since 1962, after the retirement of Professor E.A. Finkelstein she became the Head of the Department and took this position until her retirement in 1972.
From 1973 till 1974 the Head of the Department was Associate Professor Leonid Ivanovich Vinogradov – a remarkable teacher, a wide profile biologist.
From 1974 till 1978 the head of the Department was Associate Professor Max Valentinovich Severin. In 1978 the Head of the Department was Tolegen Kazezovich Raissov. T.K.Raissov is Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Kazakhstan, doctor of biological sciences, professor, academician of the Academy of Information Moscow city, laureate of the P.G.Sergiev prize, Moscow city, Russia; honorary citizen of East-Kazakhstan region. He is an author of more than 240 scientific publications and 6 monographs.
From 2009 till 2018 the Head of the department was Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Mynzhanov Masygut Rahimovich. Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Natural Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1998 he defended his doctoral dissertation in the All-Russian Institute of Helminthology named after K.I. Skryabin, Moscow city. He has 3 monographs, 90 printed works in foreign and domestic publications, 2 patents for inventions.
March 2, 2018, the Department of Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics was named after the Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan Raissov T.K.
Since September 2018 associate professor Orazalina Ainash Saparovna became the Head of the Department of Molecular biology and Medical genetics named after the Academician of the National Academy of sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan T.K. Raissov.
The educational and methodological work at the department was enriched with innovative methods and forms, such as PBL, TBL, brainstorming, work in small groups, classes are held using multimedia and interactive technologies. Since September 2019, together with the strategic partner Bashkent University (Ankara, Turkey), a new integrated educational program has been implemented using the KEYPS electronic platform. The department has a rich experience in vocational guidance work, for 18 years the staff of the Department conducted City and Regional Olympiads in biology for graduates of secondary schools and colleges.
The department has a student scientific council of the department «Molecular Genetics Researches». Council students actively participate in various international and republican conferences, as well as conferences held at the university level. The circle students took various prizes and were awarded with certificates and diplomas.
On the basis of the department there is a student youth organization “Student Donor”, the purpose of which is to improve the volunteer donor movement among students and the population and research work.
Plans for further development are the study of modern trends in the development of medical education; development and implementation of integrated training programs, study and evaluation of educational programs, distance learning, expansion of specialized knowledge in the field of molecular biology, medical genetics, genetic engineering, study of the human genome through the capabilities of the planned Megalab scientific laboratory.
Field of activity: molecular biology, medical genetics, medical education, introduction of innovative teaching methods.
