Bi8410 History of biological sciences

Faculty of Science
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Petr Bureš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Petr Bureš, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Petr Bureš, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
History of Sciences is part of a complex study of the sciences. A better understanding of the historical development of science, its function, possibilities and consequences is the main aim of this study. The organization of history of biology lectures corresponds with that commonly used in history of art and culture lectures. Attention is focused mainly on the development of biology in Europe. The historical background of technical, cultural or political developments is accented in individual stages. Emphasis is placed on the development of experimental and measurement technology and the institutionalization of education.
Learning outcomes
Student will be able to:
- identify and summarize important features of major periods of history of basic biological sciences;
- identify and describe the historical context of major biological discoveries;
- summarize and characterize the development of the organization of scientific research and institutions;
- write an essay summarizing the history of the research in the subject of her/his master's thesis;
Syllabus
  • Basic terms, paradigm theory 2. Biological knowledge of paleolithic peoples. Medicine and biology in Sumer, Assyri and Egypt. First Greek "biologists": Aristotle and Theophrastus. Medicine and biology in Alexandrian Musaion. Roman encyclopedists: Plinius, Galenos and Dioscorides. Biological knowledge in Arabia: Ibn-Síná, Ebn-Baithar, Al-Gáhiz, Ad-Dámírí. Biological knowledge of medieval monks: W. Strabo, C. Africanus, O. v. Meung, Hildegarde v. Bingen, Albertus Magnus. Origin of first biological disciplines in the Renaissance: botany - Brunfels, Bock, Fuchs, etc.; anatomy: A. Vesalius, B. Eustachi, W. Harvey, etc.; zoology C. Gessner, U. Aldrovandi, G. Rondelet, P. Belon. Diversification of biology during the Enlightenment: plant morphology: J. Jung, C. F. Wolff, sexuality of plants: R. J. Camerarius, A. Zálužanský, origin of plant classification: from Morison to Linnaeus, plant physiology: S. Hales, J. Ingenhousz, systematic zoology: J. Ray animal anatomy and physiology: S. Santorio, R. Descartes, T. Willis, L. Spallanzani, A. v. Haller, study of microscopical structures: R. Hooke, A. v. Leeuwenhoek, M. Malpighi, N. Grew, expeditions to exotic countries 18th century: new institutions - Scientific societies, scientific journals, museums, scientific congresses. 19th and 20th century: development of microscopic techniques and methods (microbiology, cytology); interdisciplinary science (biogeography, biochemistry); historical view in biology (paleontology, evolutionary biology), synthetic aspects (biology, ecology, genetics), measurements and quantitative aspects of biology (biostatistics).
Literature
  • Jahn Ilse, Löther Rolf et Senglaub Konrad: Geschichte der Biologie. - Fischer Verlag, Jena 1982.
  • KOMÁREK, Stanislav. Dějiny biologického myšlení :apendix : vznik, vývoj a eko-etologické významy křídelních kreseb u motýlů. 1. vyd. Praha: Vesmír, 1997, 142 s. ISBN 80-85977-10-9. info
  • JANKO, Jan. Life sciences in the Czech lands (Bohemia and Moravia) 1750-1950. Praha: Archiv Akademie věd České republiky, 1997, 610 s. ISBN 80-902464-0-0. info
Teaching methods
lecture
Assessment methods
oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2023, recent)
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