Biotechnology is a concept that is often used in conjunction with gene technologies and genetic recombination (a new combination of genetic material) as a collection of technologies that enable living organisms or their products to be used to change human life and environment in a positive way. The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge and attitude values of prospective teachers studying in science and primary education classroom teaching with a special focus on biotechnology. The study was conducted with a total of 132 teacher candidates, 68 of them from the Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Science Education Department and 64 of them were from the Department of Primary Education, classroom teaching department of an Education Faculty in the academic year of 2018-2019 in autumn season. The data collection tools used in the study consisted of two scales: “Biotechnology Information Scale” and “Biotechnology Attitude Scale”, taken from the literature. “The Biotechnology Information Scale” was prepared according to the 3-point Likert type in order to determine the level of knowledge of prospective teachers on biotechnology. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was calculated as ,70 in the examination of internal consistency test of the scale. “The Biotechnology Attitude Scale” was prepared according to the 5-point Likert type and was composed of 22 questions. Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient was calculated as .81 in the examination of internal consistency test of the scale. As a result of the analyzes, it was examined whether there is a significant difference between biotechnology knowledge levels and gender in terms of biotechnology according to the departments where the teacher candidates are registered. The obtained results showed that contrary to the literature, there was a difference in favor of science teacher candidates however; this difference was not statistically significant between the knowledge level of science teacher candidates and that of prospective classroom teacher candidates. Similarly, the results of the attitude test showed that there was a difference between the science teacher candidates and the classroom teacher candidates but this difference was not statsitically significant either.

Teacher Candidates, Science education, socio-scientific issues, biotecnology.