The official opening of the Department of Zoology took place on January 15, 1934 at the Kazakh State University.

Over the years, the department was headed by outstanding scientists and teachers: Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor A.N. Bartenev (1934-1936, 1939-1945); Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the KazSSR, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor B.A. Dombrovsky (1937-1939); Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor A.S. Kosmachevsky; Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor P.O.Isaev; Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor A.A. Emelyanov; Senior Teacher V.S. Bazhanov; Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor V.A. Dogel; Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor. I.G.Galuso; Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor N.Z. Khusainova; Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor V.A. Khakhlov; Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor V.V. Shevchenko; candidate of biological sciences, associate professor M.K. Dzhumaliev; Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor V.P. Mitrofanov; candidate of biological sciences A.F. Sidorova; Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor M.E. Dilmukhamedov; Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor K.B. Olzhabekova, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor I.S. Kolbay, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor S.T. Nurtazin. 2002-2006, candidate of biological sciences, associate professor K.B. Olzhabekova was appointed head of the department. In 2006-2007, acting The head of the department was Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor I.S. Kolbay.

In September 2007, by decision of the Academic Council, the Department of Zoology and Ichthyology was merged with the Department of Cytology and Histology. The new structure was named the Department of Zoology and Histology. From 2007 to 2011, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor S.T. Nurtazin was elected Head of the Department. This merger was motivated by common research areas, as well as the historical fact that the Department of Cytology and Histology had been separated from the Department of Zoology.

In 2011, another consolidation occurred: the Department of Zoology and Histology was merged with the Department of Botany and Ecology to create the Department of Biodiversity and Bioresources.

Heads of the Department of Biodiversity and Bioresources:

• 2011–2014 – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor S.S. Aidosova;
• 2014–2016 – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor A.T. Kanaev;
• 2016–2023 – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor M.S. Kurmanbaeva;
• 2023–2024 – PhD, Senior Lecturer G.B. Kegenova;
• 2024–2025 – PhD, Associate Professor A.S. Nurmakhanova.

In 2025, the Department of Biodiversity and Bioresources was divided into two independent departments:

• Department of Botany and Agroecology;
• Department of Zoology, Histology, and Cytology.

Currently, the Department of Zoology, Histology, and Cytology is headed by PhD, Senior Lecturer G.B. Kegenova.