Research at COS is devoted to the molecular and cellular mechanisms of organismal function in animals and plants. Central questions include: How do molecular signaling pathways interact to give rise to specific cell types? How do cell division and migration patterns influence organ shape, size, and function? How do environmental stimuli such as temperature or nutrient supply control the development and physiology of organisms? How have these mechanisms evolved and changed over the course of evolution?

Research groups at COS are working on these topics using state-of-the-art technologies with numerous partner groups in Heidelberg's life science faculties.

Main research topics:

• Molecular and cell biology
• Genetics
• Stem cell and developmental biology
• Neurobiology
• Physiology
• Biodiversity
• Evolutionary Biology