Welcome

The Committee on Developmental Biology (CDB) is a degree-granting program within the Molecular Biosciences cluster, which also includes programs studying Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Systems Biology and Cell Biology. The academic programs of the cluster share a core curriculum and a common admissions process.

The Committee on Developmental Biology takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding all aspects of the fundamental question of how a single cell, the fertilized egg, ultimately produces a complex fully patterned adult organism. More than 35 faculty from both basic science and clinical departments in the Division of Biological Sciences belong to the Committee on Developmental Biology. Their research uses traditional model species including nematode worms, fruit-flies, Arabidopsis, zebrafish, amphibians, chick and mouse as well as non-model systems such as acorn worms and cephalopods. Areas of research focus include developmental genetics, stem cells and regeneration, developmental neurobiology, and “evo-devo”.

The goal of the Committee on Developmental Biology is to provide a challenging, stimulating and collegial environment where students can become independent researchers.