Department of Biology and Physiology

Characteristics of the department

The Department of Biology and Physiology was established after the change of the organisational structure of UVLF from 1.9.2020 and consists of four departments:

• Department of Biology, Zoology and Radiobiology;
• Department of Genetics;
• Department of Physiology;
• Department of Pathological Physiology.

Department of Biology, Zoology and Radiobiology

Within biology, the department provides undergraduate teaching of compulsory courses Biology and Molecular Biology in the study programme Pharmacy, and elective course Laboratory Diagnostics in the study programme Food Hygiene. The department is a training centre for postgraduate education in the study field of Veterinary Medicine, SP Animal Parasitic Diseases, SP Animal Hygiene and Environment (subjects for III. degree: Molecular Parasitology).

In the field of zoology, the department provides teaching of the compulsory elective subject Zoology for ŠP KynDF, KynEF. The course provides in a comprehensive form basic information on the characteristics and life manifestations of animals, their evolution, interrelations, ecology and distribution of animal species and their systematic classification. It helps to know the most important representatives of the various animal kingdoms, from medically important species of unicellular organisms, multicellular organisms to higher vertebrates, with emphasis on canid carnivores, and to orient oneself in the morphology and anatomy of their bodies. The aim is to acquire knowledge that will enable an understanding of the importance of animals in human life and how to integrate the requirements of human life while preserving the distinctiveness of individual animal groups.

Within the framework of radiobiology, the department provides teaching of the compulsory subject Radiopharmacology and Radiopharmaceuticals (F) and the compulsory elective subjects Radiobiology (VVL), Food Radiobiology (HP), Radiobiology and Irradiation of Food (TaKP). The research activity of the department is focused on monitoring of post-Chernobyl 137Cs in forest ecosystem and monitoring of harmful effects of ionizing radiation on living organism at metabolic level, in order to use model organisms designed for alternative biotests.

Department of Genetics

The Department of Genetics provides teaching of the compulsory subject of Genetics in the study programmes General Veterinary Medicine, Food Hygiene and in the study in English language (GVM, post BSc.) Within the compulsory elective subject, genetics is taught in the study field of Pharmacy and Clinical Genetics in both Slovak and English languages. In the Bachelor's study programme Cynology, both full-time and part-time, the department provides teaching of the compulsory subject Genetics and Breeding of Dogs and the compulsory elective subject Fundamentals of Biology and Genetics in both Slovak and English in the study programme Veterinary Nursing. The department provides postgraduate education inn the study field of Veterinary Medicine, in the study program of Veterinary Morphology and Physiology. In scientific research activities, creative workers and PhD students are engaged in the assessing the potential cytotoxic, genotoxic and synergistic effects of different types of pesticides. They also focus on the study of pesticide-induced changes in the epigenetic status of cells - DNA methylation of selected bovine genes.  The department is also involved in molecular genetic analysis and DNA diagnostics of selected hereditary diseases in animals, especially in dogs.

Department of Physiology

The Department of Physiology provides teaching of the compulsory subject ‘Physiology’ in the study programmes of General Veterinary Medicine, Food Hygiene, Veterinary Nursing, Human-Animal Relationship and its use in Canis Therapy and Hippotherapy, including study programmes in English (GVM, post BSc.).

In the study programme Cynology, both full and part-time form, the department provides teaching of the subject ‘Fundamentals of Physiology’. The department also provides teaching of the compulsory subject ‘Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology of Food Animals’ in the study programme Feed and Food Safety

The department provides postgraduate education in the field of Veterinary Medicine in the study programmes of Veterinary Morphology and Physiology, Veterinary Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, and Internal Diseases of Animals.

The research activity of the department is focused on the study of mechanisms of action of bioactive additives of natural origin with an emphasis on the modulation of metabolic processes of animals and reproductive abilities of females; with the aim of development of functional foods and additives. The department also focuses on the study of the toxicological and biochemical effects of animal venoms on living organisms and the use of the chicken embryo as an effective animal model. In scientific research activities, creative workers are also engaged on the study of the influence of transplanted, sex-specific microbiomes on the state of the gut, regulation of feed intake and metabolic interactions in pseudo germ-free mice.

Department of Pathological Physiology

The Department provides undergraduate teaching of the compulsory subject of Pathological physiology and the compulsory elective subject of Applied veterinary haematology in the study programmes General Veterinary Medicine, Food Hygiene and in the study in English language (GVM, post BSc., post BSc. JSP, JSP). In the study programme Pharmacy the Department provides teaching of the compulsory subject of Physiology and pathological physiology. In the Veterinary Nurse study program, the compulsory subject Pathological Physiology is taught in full-time and part-time form and the mandatory optional subject Radiobiology in study programs in the English language (GVM, post BSc.).

The department is a training centre for postgraduate education in the study field of Veterinary Medicine, SP Veterinary Morphology and Physiology, internal diseases of animals, veterinary surgery, orthopedics and radiology and animal nutrition and dietetics. In addition, the department also provides education in the study field of Biology, in the study program of immunology.

The research activity of the department is focused on the study of the effect of phytogenic additives, nutraceuticals on physiological processes (intestinal mucus, antioxidant status in blood and tissues) in livestock.