Evolutionary morphology
Exploring the forms and structures of life

Research

The department investigates how body plans and biological structures change over the course of evolution. It explores how genetic processes, individual development and environmental conditions interact to shape the diversity of forms in modern and fossil organisms.

To this end, the team combines collection-based research with modern methods such as imaging techniques, quantitative analyses and molecular biological approaches. The aim is to gain a better understanding of evolutionary changes and to explain the development of organisms in the context of environment and function.