Evaluation of biology textbooks in Jordan regarding the inclusion of bioinformatics, its applications, and related bioethical issues
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Abstract
Bioinformatics is a scientific field that uses computers, software, and computerized databases to analyse and interpret biological data to reach different biological questions. However, bioethical questions involve a range of ethical, social, legal dilemmas that arise from scientific and technological advances in the fields of biology or medicine as well as their impact on people deeply concerned with it. This research investigates the content of biology textbooks in Jordan, examining how much mention is made about bioinformatics applications and associated bioethical issues. The research is being conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach and utilizes a questionnaire to survey the opinions of science and biology teachers on the importance of integrating bioinformatics applications and ethical issues into biology textbooks. The study sample consists of two groups: biology textbooks for the 11th and 12thgrades in Jordan, and supervisors and teachers in the field of science education, randomly selected from various educational regions in Jordan (totalling 419 participants). The results indicate a low inclusion rate of these topics in 12th-grade biology textbooks, which does not align with the global trend of keeping pace with modern biotechnological advancements and their associated ethical considerations. The study recommends that biology curriculum developers in Jordan prioritize integrating bioinformatics applications and bioethical issues into textbooks, linking them to broader themes of science, technology, and society (STS).
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