The Department of Organism Biology is part of the Evolutionary Biology Centre and consists of six research programs:

• Evolution and Development
• Environmental Toxicology
• Systematic Biology
• Molecular Evolution
• Comparative Physiology
• Physiological Botany
  

The research at the department has a developmental and evolutionary theme including early vertebrate evolution, plant development and innate immune reactions in invertebrates and the phylogeny of these processes. The deepest branches in the tree of life are search for using bioinformatics and experimental molecular techniques. Genomic analyses are used to understand evolutionary processes in microorganisms and eukaryotes.  Research about how chemicals of anthropogenic origin interact with cellular functions and give rise to long-lasting adverse health effects in humans and wildlife is also performed.

The department harbors the SciLifeLab zebra fish platform, and a Drosophila facility.