Institute of Biology, UP Diliman
Coordinates: 14°39′09″N 121°04′15″E / 14.65250°N 121.07083°E
| The Institute of Biology | |
| Established | January 30, 1986: Institute of Biology |
|---|---|
| Director | Sonia Jacinto, Ph.D. |
| Current Residence | Zoology Building Palma Hall Pavilion 4 UP Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines |
| Website | www.biology.upd.edu.ph |
| upbiologydiliman@yahoo.com | |
The Institute of Biology (IB) is one of the eight academic institutes of the University of the Philippines' College of Science. Catering to students leaning towards medical school, post-graduate studies, and research, the IB offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Biology, Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology, M.S. in Microbiology, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biology.
In line with its vision of becoming a National Center of Excellence in Biology, the IB hosts 6 academic groups. In 2006, the Institute of Biology was declared by the Commission on Higher Education (Philippines)(CHED) as a Center of Excellence (COE) in Biology. The facilities of IB are currently stationed in the Zoology Building and Palma Hall Pavilion 4 of the UP Diliman Campus. The groundbreaking ceremony of the new building of Institute of Biology under the National Science Complex was held on January 27, 2010.
History
Established in 1986, the Institute of Biology was the result of the merger between the former Departments of Botany and Zoology. The merger was in response to the need to consolidate the facilities and manpower necessary for the development to an institution of higher learning and research in the various fields of basic and applied biology in the Philippines.
Department of Botany
Pre-World War II, the department of botany was organized under the College of Liberal Arts in June 1910. The department was started by Dr. Walter Shaw and Richard Morris Holman with thirty-two students. Dr. Elmer Merrill was made part-time professor in the University and served as the department`s first head. With the increase in students, Dr. William H. Brown was added to the faculty and would subsequently become the second head of the department in 1916 when Dr. Merrill was appointed the Director of the Bureau of Science. When Dr. Brown became the next Director of the Bureau of Science, Dr. Jose Kabigting Santos was appointed and became the first Filipino Head of the department.He would serve the department, up to the war years. Connected to the department were plant-physiologist-chemist, Dr. Joaquin Marañon and morphologist, Dr. Eduardo Quisimbing. During World War II, Dr. Gregorio T. Velasquez has represented the Department and is credited for having salvaged the laboratory equipment at great risk, at the time. In this, he was assisted by Jesus Redondo.
Dr. Velasquez, named a National Scientist in 1983, became the first head of the post-war department. Dr Jose Vera Santos, the department head and then chairman from 1955 to 1967 initiated the project to beautify the campus through landscaping and planting greenery. In 1962, he became the first director of the UP Arboretum and Nursery. Dr. Joventino D. Soriano served as the chairman of the department from 1969. He introduced changes in the curriculum. During this time, the Llamas Hall Pavilion Annex was constructed to ease space problems. In 1973 to 1976, Consuelo V. Asis served as the department`s first female head. The department participated in the administration of a new academic program, the Ph.D in Environmental Science. Dr. Edgardo Gomez, a marine biologist, was added to the faculty and would later be contributory to the creation of the UP Marine Sciences Center (now the, Marine Science Institute), with him as its Director. The first professorial chair in Botany was awarded to Dr. J.D. Soriano. In 1976, Dr. Reynaldo A. Tabbada, a plant physiologist became the chairman. In coordination with the Department of Zoology, the department offered the following courses: B.S, M.S. and Ph.D. (in Botany), and M.S. (in Marine Biology). The academic programs of the department expanded from B.S. in Botany to Ph.D. in Botany (1967) and Ph.D. in Biology (1982). Dr. Flordeliz R. Uyenco served was the chairman of the department in 1983. He served as its last chairman before the merger of the Departments of Botany and Zoology.
Department of Zoology
Started on June 3, 1910, the Department of Zoology was a sub-unit of the College of Liberal Arts. With the Department of Botany, the zoology department was housed in the second floor of Rizal Hall, now the U.P. College of Manila. The department offered courses which were required in the curricula for courses such as medicine, pharmacy, education and engineering. Its more advanced zoology courses were designed for preparing teachers of zoology in collegiate levels.
Dr, Lawrence E. Griffin, who was also the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts then, served as the Head of the Department of Zoology. In 1914, Reinhard Parker Cowles became the Department Head and acting Dean of the College. From 1921 to 1923, Artemas Lawrence Day headed the department. During his term Filipino instructors, Cecilio Lopez and Hilario Roxas, assistants in Zoology, were added to the department. By the 1925, there was an increase in course offerings such that more staff was necessary. There was an increase of Filipino faculty members who were headed by Dr. P.B. Sivickis, a Lithaninan. From 1930 to 1935, the department was headed by Dr. Hilario Roxas. By 1936, Professor Leopoldo Clemente was acting Head and saw the department through the years of war. After the war there were only 4 faculty members, excluding Dr. Clemente.
During the transfer of the University to Diliman, the department was housed in makeshift buildings located in what became the National Engineering Center. From 1950 to 1955, Dr. Clemente was the head of the department. After his term, Professor Francisco Nemenzo Sr. held the position until 1963. From 1963 to 1966, Dr. Jose V. Yapchiongco was the head of the department. From 1966 to 1972, Dr. Bienevido Z. Anicete was appointed chairman. The Llamas Pavilion, which was donated by Dr. Rosendo Llamas was constructed to meet the increasing number of Zoology Majors at the time. From 1972 to 1974, the chairman was Dr. Flor Lacanilao. Dr. Carmen Velasquez held the position from 1974 to 1976. Dr. Lacanilao followed and in 1977, saw through the construction of the Zoology building west of the Palma Hall. Professor Neon Rosell was in office for a year until Dr. Reynaldo de la Paz was appointed chairman. The last chairperson of the department, Dr. Gloria L. Enriquez, started her term on May 1, 1982, and held the position from June 1982 up to the merger of the two departments.
Institute of Biology
On January 30, 1986, the merger of the departments of Botany and Zoology was made official. The position of Dr. Enriquez was carried over the merger, making her the first director of the Institute until 1987. Dr. Debbie Co was the second director of the IB until 1988. Dr. Precilliano M. Zamora held the position from 1988 to 1990. From June 1993 to 1999, Dr. Gilda C. Rivero held the directorship for two consecutive terms. During her term, a grant from the Department of Science and Technology-Engineering and Science Education Program (DOST-ESEP) assisted the IB in procuring equipment for teaching and research. From 1999 to 2000, Dr. Nellie C. Lopez became the Officer-in-charge (OIC) until her appointment as the director from 2000-2003. From 2003 to 2006, Dr. Roberto C. Pagulayan served as director. During his term, the Institute of Biology was declared as a Center of Excellence by the CHED of the Philippine Government. Dr. Perry Ong was appointed director in June 2006. During his term on October 6, 2006, the IB was again declared a COE in Biology by the CHED. He held the position for two terms until 2012. Since 2008, the IB was increased its student admission from an approximated 80 to 120 students. In January 2011, the Institute of Biology commemorated 100 years as an institution of higher learning. Since 2012, Sonia Jacinto, Ph.D has served as the incumbent director of the IB.
The Institute of Biology currently resides in the Zoology Building and Palma Hall Pavilion 4 of the UP Diliman Campus. The groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed new building of Institute of Biology was held on January 27, 2010.
Mision and Vision
Mission
- To provide state of the art undergraduate and graduate education in pure and applied biology through world-class capabilities;
- To carry out advanced research in established and emerging areas of biology;
- To perform various biology-related extension services geared at national scientific and technology development;
- To foster academic and research linkages with local and foreign scientific institutions.
Vision
“The Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman as a National Center of Excellence in Biology in the area of Biodiversity”
Degree Programs and Courses
The Institute of Biology currently offers the 5 degree programs: B.S. Biology, Diploma in Biology, M.S. Biology, M.S. Microbiology, and Ph.D. Biology
Courses
The Institute of Biology currently offers the following courses
General Education Course
- Bio 1 (Contemporary Topics in Biology)
Undergraduate Courses
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Note: Some courses may not be offered during a semester due to the unavailability of lecturers or instructors.
1: courses offered by the Cell & Molecular Biology Academic Group.
2: courses offered by the Microbiology Academic Group.
3: courses not exclusively offered to Biology majors
Graduate Courses
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Academic Groups
Cell & Molecular Biology Academic Group
Under the academic group is the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory. The research areas of the group are inclined towards Dengue viruses (detection, isolation and characterization, antivirals) selected Protozoa (survey, identification, characterization, genotyping), fish vitellogenin, lectins (animal, plant and fungal), extracts from marine sponges-associated microorganisms: characterization of immunomodulatory properties and MN blood group distribution
Developmental Biology Academic Group (DevBio)
The teaching thrust of the DevBio states that in order to strengthen the teaching capability of the group, it must require regular retooling, attending seminars and workshops as well as send present teachers for further studies. The research thrust states that in order to strengthen its research cababilities, the group should continue existing projects, encourage research, research funding and publication. And as an extension, the group should also share and hone its expertise in developmental biology by conducting teaching and research workshops and by working with professional societies and organizations toward sharing ideas and information.
Ecology and Taxonomy Academic Group (ETAG)
In correlation to its aim of competing globally in ecology and biodiversity research, ETAG`s projects dwell on managing resources, restoring degraded sites, sustaining productivity of exploited systems, all of which are directed towards improving the quality of life. Its studies deal with Bio-cultural diversity conservation, Wildlife biology, forest dynamics, restoration ecology, and seed dispersal, recruitment limitation of forest species, biodiversity conservation and monitoring of terrestrial aquatic ecosystems.
Genetics Academic Group
Under the Genetics Academic group are the DNA Barcoding Laboratory and the Molecular Population Genetics Laboratory. Its projects include Genetic and Morphological Variations in Hatchery and Wild Populations of Milkfish, DNA Barcoding of Philippine Gobies, DNA barcoding, Genetic diversity and Molecular phylogeny of Philippine catfishes, DNA barcoding, and the Molecular Phylogeny of Philippine Halfbeaks, Genetic Diversity of Philippine native and endemic Species. Utilizing the 5’ region of the cytochrome c oxidase gene I, the standard source for DNA barcodes, the DNA Barcoding of Life in the Philippines (Dolphin) Project is aimed at establishing DNA barcodes of native and endemic species of the Philippines.
Microbiology Academic Group
The Microbiology Academic Group offers the following degrees. M.S. Microbiology and Ph.D. Biology. Under it, is the Medical Microbiology Laboratory. Its research deals with the molecular biology of medicinally-important protozoans, and molecular diagnostics, Human and microbial interaction. Its research interests include microbial pathogenesis, epidemiology, drug resistance, diagnosis and clinical management of infectious diseases, search for novel antimicrobial agents, microbial ecology. Notable specimens used for such studies are Acanthamoeba, Escherichia, and Salmonella.
Physiology Academic Group
The research areas of the Physiology Academic Group include Animal Physiology (Chemical Biology, Animal Toxicology) and Plant Physiology (Secondary metabolism, Plant growth and Development, Phytoremidiation) The group`s research more specifically deals with the physiology of fish reproduction, fish seed production in aquaculture, Fish and Shellfish diseases (Fish pathology) and penaeid shrimp virology, immune modulatory responses (Non-specific immunity) of fish to stress (e.g., heavy meals pesticides, etc.) and chemo-therapeutants and natural products.
Facilities and Events
The IB hosts multiple laboratories (Cell & Molecular Biology Laboratory, DNA Barcoding Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Molecular Ecology & Systematics Laboratory, Molecular Population Genetics laboratory , Freshwater Ecology Research Laboratory, Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Terrestrial Research in Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Mammalian Cell Culture Laboratory) which the faculty and students utilize during laboratory and/or thesis work. Also, under the Institute are the Jose Vera Santos Memorial Herbarium, Invertebrate Museum and Vertebrate Museum, which are maintained by the faculty and staff. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new building of the IB was held on January 27, 2010. As of 2011, the third floor of the three-story building was being constructed. The building was expected to be completed by mid-2011.
The IB regularly conducts events on biological concepts. Seminars and workshops held by faculty and guest lecturers are attended by students and secondary or tertiary educators. Notable events which have become annual traditions in the IB include the Baccalaureate and Recognition program which are held before graduation. In the middle of the first semester, the IB Majors` Day, also known as Bio Majors` Day is held. The Biogyugan, an equivalent of the formal junior-senior prom, is held months before the end of the second semester.
Student Organizations
Students majoring in Biology may opt to join university-wide and IB-based organizations. Based in the Institute of Biology are the following organizations in UP Diliman: UP Association of Biology Majors, UP Pre-Medical Honor Society, and UP Zoological Society.
Contact Details
| Address | Institute of Biology, Quirino Avenue College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman 1101 Quezon City, NCR, Philippines |
| Contact | Direct line: +63 2 920 5471
UP Trunkline: +63 2 981 8500 loc. 3727 (Director`s Office) 3728 (Herbarium) 3731 (Supply Room) |
| upbiologydiliman@yahoo.com |
External links
- Official Website of the Institute of Biology
- UP College of Science
- University of the Philippines Diliman
References
- "Institute of Biology". Official Website. UP Biology - UP Diliman. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- "UP IB: One Hundred Years of Excellence, Distinction and Pride". Website. UP Diliman Bio Alumni. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- Donaldo-Jacinto, Sonia . "The Institute of Biology - History." Greening the Future. One Hundred Years in Biology in UP. Grand Centennial Homecoming, January 8, 2011
- Asis, Consuelo V. "The Department of Botany – History." Greening the Future. One Hundred Years in Biology in UP. Grand Centennial Homecoming, January 8, 2011
- Enriquez, Gloria L. "The Department of Zoology – History" Greening the Future. One Hundred Years in Biology in UP. Grand Centennial Homecoming, January 8, 2011