Knowledge of Elementary Genetic Terminology Among High School Students in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Genetics, as a science of the future, is very important part of Biology teaching. Within educational system in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is studied in limited number of clasess with a minimum of practical excercises, in both elementary and secondary schools. Limited understanding of scientific facts result in prejudices or uninformed attitudes towards novel biotechnologies that are largely based on non-reviewed and non-scientific information often incorrectly or inadequately presented in mass-media. Purpose of this research was to estimate the level of knowledge about selected topics in genetics among high school students in three Mostar high school institutions and differences in the level of knowledge between students from different high school programs – grammar school and vocational medical school. The research was conducted in 2017 among students of fourth grade of three high school institutions: ''Grammar School Mostar'', ''Medical high school Mostar'' and Medical high school ''Sestre milosrdnice''. Notable differences in knowledge level between two vocational programs are observed as well as variance in learning outcomes of the same program presented in two formal languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina