Department

TCU started out as Tzu Chi Medical College and enrolled the first class of its students in 1994. In 1998, the name was changed to Tzu Chi College of Medicine and Humanities. When the College was expanded into a University in 2000, several new colleges were added. One of those new colleges is the College of Life Sciences (CLS). Besides two classes of undergraduates, the CLS also contained several MS degree programs in the form of graduate institutes. These institutes are the Institute of Molecular Cell Biology (IMCB) and the Institute of Human Genetics (IHG). The missions of IMCB are to teach and train students in advanced knowledge and laboratory skills in exploring the structures and functions of different organisms, from prokaryotes to humans. The IHG is the only MS degree program of its kind on human genetics in Taiwan. The missions of IHG are to train students to explore and understand normal human gene functions and how dysfunctions of genes occur.

With the completion of human genome sequencing and other organisms, we realized we are entering into a new era of biomedical sciences: The Age of Genomics and Post-Genomics. In the Post-Genomic era there will be new approaches in biomedical research. Consequently, manpower to meet these new research directions is urgently needed. To meet the new challenges, we need teach and train young persons who are competent to face challenges of the new genomic era. A new department was formed with purpose of instructing undergraduates. This was carried out by combining the faculties and facilities of IMCB and IHG, and first class of undergraduates was admitted in 2008. Our undergraduates received solid grounding in molecular biology and genetics through lectures and hands on experiments. The scope of their studies covers diverse ranges in biomedical fields. Most instructions are delivered by departmental faculties. Faculties from other related departments also participated in giving instruction to our students. Students graduated from our department are expected to possess a better knowledge and skills needed for further exploration in biomedical sciences during the genomics and post-genomic eras. We hope our graduates will infuse new blood and contribute to the advancement of biomedical sciences in the genomic era.