The Biology Section at Charles University, with its rich tradition and being the largest part of the Faculty of Science, is a place of unique features and contributions that stand out in the field of biological disciplines/departments.
The Biology Section brings together 11 departments, which focus on a wide range of biological disciplines (Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Department of Botany, Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Department of Cell Biology, Department of Physiology, Department of Parasitology, Department of Ecology, Department of Zoology, Department of Teaching and Didactics of Biology, and Department of Philosophy and History of Science). To support scientific, educational, and other activities, the section established eight service/core facilities: Imaging Methods Laboratory (Viničná), Imaging Methods Laboratory (BIOCEV), Laboratory OMICS - genomics (BIOCEV), Laboratory OMICS - proteomics (BIOCEV), Animal (Vertebrate) Facility, Herbarium, Hrdlička Museum of Anthropology, Library the Biological Sciences. In particular, service laboratories/"core facilities" are equipped with expensive instrumentation, the acquisition of which was often financed from the European operational programs/structural funds in recent years.
The workplace of the biological section is located in six buildings: four buildings are located on the perimeter of the Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, one is located in Brožek's Genetic Garden and one building (shared with other institutions) is in Vestec near Prague (BIOCEV). In the future, it is planned to establish workplaces of the Biology Section in the newly built Albertov Campus (Biocenter building). The building envelopes incorporate unique collection material (protists, fungal organisms, herbariums, zoological collections, anthropological collections, etc.) and teaching spaces but also laboratories for implementing modern science, the results of which in a number of fields reach the world level.
The Section Scientific Council, serving as a permanent advisory body to the Section Vice-Dean and collaborating with the Faculty Scientific Council, plays a crucial role in the decision-making process of the Biology Section.