The research projects of the Division Animal Genetics focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying organogenesis in animal development. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system (i) the cell biology of gastrulation, (ii) the molecular biology of hematopoiesis, (iii) the molecular basis of cell migration, (iv) the developmental genetics of gut formation and (v) the molecular mechanisms of cuticle differentiation are investigated. Another project tries to integrate aspects of these topics and is concerned with (vi) the evolution of developmental mechanisms that are relevant for organogenesis.