Biotechnological literacy levels of prospective science teachers

Nowadays, one of the fastest developing fields in science is biotechnology. Teachers are considered to be the most vital component in introducing pupils to biotechnology developments. In the present case, teachers' own biotechnology literacy is significant in creating biotechnology literacy in students. For this reason, it was aimed to reveal the biotechnology literacy levels of prospective science teachers through this study. In addition, it was targeted to determine to what extent prospective science teachers follow the changes and innovations in biotechnology via this study. The sample group of the research consists of 4th grade prospective science teachers studying in the science teaching department of seven universities in Turkey, selected by the convenient sampling method. Survey research method was preferred among quantitative research methods in this study. Biotechnology literacy test was prepared during research process in appropriate with test developing method to reveal the biotechnology literacy levels of the prospective science teachers. As a result of the application of biotechnology literacy test to 325 prospective science teachers, it was observed that the prospective science teachers have low level in each of the biotechnology literacy dimensions of nominal, functional, procedural and multidimensional literacy. The study's findings indicate that prospective science teachers do not follow the changes and innovations in biotechnology adequately, they insufficiently recognize the model organisms utilized in biotechnology, they have little knowledge about medical biotechnology applications that directly affect human life. In addition, many misconceptions about genetics and biotechnology were identified among prospective science teachers.