How do cells form tissues?

We want to understand how cells form tissues and how these tissues develop into complex organisms.

Decoding Diversity

We want to understand the molecular principles underlying the development of organisms and how they brought about diversity.

Going into the unknown

We develop new technologies that make the invisible visible and simulate biological processes to understand life.

What makes cells tick?

We want to understand how cells function in detail, how they communicate, and how they organize intracellular exchange.

We are the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG)

We do pioneering basic research. 500 curiosity-driven scientists from over 50 countries ask: How do cells form tissues? Our research programs span multiple scales of magnitude, from molecular assemblies to organelles, cells, tissues, organs, and organisms.

Science News

When less is more: gene loss in evolution

Large-scale analysis of gene losses sheds light on the evolution of mammalian features

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Freedom for neural progenitor cells

Novel molecular mechanism underlying the delamination of neural progenitor cells identified

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From cellular organelles to neurodegeneration

An unexpected link between a gene mutated in ALS and a new mechanism to protect cells from oxidative stress.

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Sentinels of the Genome

A comprehensive resource reveals dynamics of 70 DNA repair proteins - a powerful platform for basic research and anticancer drug evaluation

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Insights into the evolution of a signalling molecule

Scientists discover how a molecule’s role changes in evolution from simple metabolite to instructive signal

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What sets the limit?

The mechanism that sets the size of mitotic spindles has been identified

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FLUCS – An interactive microscope for biologists

A fundamentally new way to study cells and embryonic development

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