About the department
The Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development (GCD) spans a broad spectrum of biological disciplines, including the storage and expression of information (genetics), its translation into the workings of individual cells (cell biology), and the assembly of cells into tissues and organ systems (development).
Our vision for the future of the department embraces three critical strategies: 1) integration of methods and ideas across disciplines, 2) collaborative projects that assemble the people required to achieve that integration, and 3) strategic use of model systems that provide the most powerful experimental access to important biological and medical problems. With our uniquely diverse expertise, these approaches allow us to build upon innovative basic science and to translate fundamental discoveries into direct benefits for society. (Strategies and Outcomes)
“The biology of the 21st century is going to be unlike anything that has come before.”
– Michael O’Connor, department head
