The new Department of Genetics & Evolution (founded in 2011) in Geneva University is born from the integration these last 20 years of multiple disciplines such as Classical Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Developmental Biology, and Evolutionary Biology.

In the 1930‘s, Emile Guyénot, remarkable pioneer of interdisciplinarity, succeeded to combine classical Zoology (a discipline for which Geneva was famous for nearly two centuries) and experimental biology (generally referred to as Animal Biology). However, Guyénot went beyond that synthesis as he organized practical courses of Genetics and eagerly defended the facts of Evolution. The Department has maintained its tradition: we still teach Zoology, we keep excellent contacts with the Museum of Natural History in Geneva, and both Classical/Molecular Genetics and Experimental Biology are active disciplines. However, in the last few years, we additionally integrated multiple ‘omics’ disciplines and techniques (genomics, transcriptomics,…) and further strengthened our position in the study of the Evolutionary Molecular Mechanisms.

The issues raised by the applications of biological disciplines, such as Genetics, or by central facts and concepts, such as Biological Evolution, have influenced our choice to reinforce our Department's expertise in these two disciplines which are strategic for both the University and our relationship with the public. The new name of our department (Genetics & Evolution) better reflects our core expertise and activities… and would certainly be appreciated by Carl Vogt and Emile Guyénot.

History of the department