Research Projects The central theme of our research is to understand how stochastic interactions of cells and molecules control the functional behaviour of multicellular systems. We specifically focus on how cells interact…

How embryonic cells develop into complex organs Our body consists of 30 trillion cells that are organized into organs such as the liver, heart and kidneys. These specialized cells are generated in the embryo by a combination…

Chromosomes in 3D The developmentally dynamic nucleus How are chromosomes organized within nuclei? And how does organization impact developmental events? The nucleus is very dynamic during embryogenesis, in part because…

From the lab bench to the political stage. November 2013 Each morning he cycles to his office at the Münsterplatz in Basel. The usual business of telephone calls and writing – seen in most offices – are rare here. Instead,…

Theoretical Physics of Living Systems The development of an organism from a single fertilized cell into an embryo is a spectacular display of self-organization. This process is determined by the collective dynamics of cells…

Prof. Maria Hondele on cell organelles of a special kind Tiny droplets found within the cell have long fascinated Maria Hondele. These structures, known as membraneless organelles, have been well known for a long time, but…

No matter where you go, you always find someone there already. This is true for many living creatures but especially for bacteria. In order to be able to stand their ground and eliminate unwanted rivals, many bacteria rely…

Cindy Seibt: «I understand now how theory and lab work connect» Cindy studies biology at the Biozentrum because she wants to understand how life works – from the brain to complex processes in nature. With increasing…

Exploring new horizons November 2016 Christian Sengstag had never imagined that he would one day do anything other than research. But then he was presented with a fait accompli: His research institute was to be closed down.…

Physics of protein phase transitions Proteins are fundamental to the physiological functions of living cells. An important aspect of protein function stems from the many possible states in which proteins can be found. In the…