Home

three people in protective lab gear collaborating with scientific information on a computer screen behind them

Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology

Decoding the Language of Cells

The Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology (GDCB) is dedicated to biological discovery and excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. Our goal is simple: educate you to figure out how life actually works by studying what happens inside cells. Whether you're thinking pre-med, veterinary school, research, biotechnology, or any other biology career, understanding how life works at the cellular and molecular level is absolutely essential.

person pipetting samples in the lab

Study Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology

Discover what's really happening inside every living cell, how your DNA actually controls everything about you, how cells know what to become, and how genes turn on and off. This is where the foundation gets built.

Explore majors
Veronika Hokrova
Through undergraduate research at Iowa State, I gained hands-on lab experience studying retinal cells. I became proficient in techniques like immunocytochemistry and cell culturing... This experience strengthened my critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving skills, all of which better prepared me for medical school.
Veronika Hokrova
three scientists working with plants in greenhouse

Research

Faculty and staff focus on six primary research areas across multiple facilities to answer some of the toughest questions in biology and ready the next generation of scientists.

Research GDCB