Modern cell biology was founded at Rockefeller more than a half century ago with the introduction of the electron microscope. The field has since evolved into a molecular phase, which focuses on how cellular and extracellular macromolecules interact and communicate with each other to give rise to specific functions and responses. Along with microscopic and biochemical approaches, Rockefeller scientists use a full range of techniques from structural biology, biophysics, physiology and genetics.

Developmental biology has been revolutionized by the identification of conserved molecules that control the cell cycle and the growth of embryos, resulting in significant advances to our understanding of how a fertilized egg is transformed into a complex organism and of how pluripotent stem cells differentiate to form specific organs. This field holds great promise, and laboratories in this area focus on combining diverse genetic, biochemical and cellular approaches to explore developmental questions in a range of model organisms.