Microscopy-based visualization of a C. elegans 2-cell embryo, showing thousands of colorful lines that trace the movements of nanoparticles, mapping the internal structure of the developing cells. The caption reads: Colorful paths trace the movements of GEM nanoparticles inside a C. elegans 2-cell embryo, revealing how its cells are organized and develop during early life. (Xiangyi Ding/Starr-Luxton Lab)

About the Department

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology unites faculty who investigate fundamental biological questions across molecular, cellular, and organismal levels, focusing on the structures and functions that drive life in all organisms. The department administers undergraduate majors in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, and plays a key role in graduate education across the College of Biological Sciences. It also supports interdisciplinary research through two advanced core facilities: the Light Imaging Facility, which specializes in live cell and super-resolution imaging, and the Bio Electron Microscopy Facility, which enables high-resolution visualization from molecules to tissues.