Alexander Aulehla
Head of Developmental Biology Unit
Our unit aims:
- To reveal principles and mechanisms underlying morphogenesis, pattern formation and cellular differentiation
- To train and mentor the next generation of developmental biologists
- To establish novel approaches to investigate multicellular development in its dynamic complexity
Towards these aims, our unit asks some key questions:
- How do systems-level properties emerge from the dynamic interplay of inter- and intracellular processes?
- How is embryonic symmetry broken and cells with distinct fates specified?
- What is the origin and evolution of our central nervous system?
- How do cells build tissues during organismal development?
- What determines patterns of gene expression in space and time?
- How does the interplay between genetic and environmental factors shape animal development and evolution?