Biochemistry is usually the last taught discipline of chemistry. In the Czech Republic, grammar school students study biochemistry during the third or fourth grade. This can sometimes cause problems because there is often little time left for biochemistry when compared to other chemical disciplines. The content of the biochemical curriculum is often limited only to memorization of the most important facts and there is no time enough to point out the important relationships of biochemistry to everyday life. In the last year of study, many students have already decided whether or not to study chemistry in the future and it is then difficult to find some topics that would attract the attention of those who do not want to continue studying chemistry. This thesis is focused on the solving this situation. The first part gives an overview on the theoretical background, which forms the framework for the following parts - Analysis of selected textbooks, which was done to map the current state of teaching biochemistry in Czech schools, and Creation of new didactic materials that can complement current textbooks and help teachers explain the basics of biochemistry more clearly and in the context of contemporary everyday life. The last part of this diploma thesis summarizes the experiences with use of the...

Cystic fibrosis and diseases associated with trinucleotide expansions are serious hereditary disease that serves in my Diploma thesis as role models suitable for teaching interesting topics of human genetics at secondary schools. By using appropriate methods of prenatal genetic treatment, it is possible to make a diagnosis of the developing fetus and to determine a corresponding prognosis in next prenatal and postnatal development in families at risk. The practical part of the thesis is devoted to the content analysis of biology schoolbooks for secondary schools and to the preparation of a prototype class of genetics at secondary schools. The aim of the content analysis of biology schoolbooks for secondary schools is the evaluation of various textbooks according to several preselected criteria. The aim of the presentation of the proposed prototype class was to determine, based on the responses obtained from the questionnaires, whether pupils of higher grades of secondary schools are interested in the subject matter of genetics, to find out what engaged their attention the most during the lessons or what they did not understand and what they considered as difficult. The lesson was conducted as a specialized seminar, the teaching method was a lecture. From the selected biology schoolbooks for...