Division of Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Hokkaido University.

Hokkaido University's biology fully
explores creatures and the essence of life.
We welcome your endless curiosity!

Our Research Field

Biodiversity
Cell Structure and Function
Behavioral Neurobiology
Reproductive and Developmental Biology
Ecological Genetics
Environmental Molecular Biology
Marine Station

Our Research Field

Biodiversity

Study of Biodiversity and Evolution

The many organisms we find on Earth are the result of billions of years of evolution. In the Biodiversity Division in the Faculty of Science, we set out to better understand this diversity and the process of evolution at different levels: from individual organisms and species to ecosystems that harbor various communities and populations. Our division is engaged in a plethora of research topics spanning genetics, biogeography, environmental change, animal behavior, and evolutionary morphology.

Teachers

Cell Structure and Function

Understanding the Organismal Adaptation and Growth in the Changing Environments from the Perspectives of Cellular Function

How organisms survive under various environmental stresses has been a biological question that is being intensively investigated. At cellular level, there are sophisticated mechanisms that control molecular behavior and cell function dynamics. In particular, plants possess a lot of amazing survival strategies which allow them to colonize the reproduce on the dry land, and there are still many unexplained life phenomena that awaits discovery. Such research is becoming increasingly important as it provides strategic information to secure stable food supply in the face of global warming. Let us unravel the molecular mechanisms that regulate the superior survival strategies of living things.

Teachers

Behavioral Neurobiology

Understanding the Mysteries of Brain and Behavior

How can we recognize the outside world, remember numerous events and make decisions to behave? All these result from all brain functions, which underlie animal behaviors. In the behavioral neurobiology division, we are working to elucidate the various behaviors of animals and the neural mechanisms and functions controlling them. Using various animals including insects, birds and large mammals, we are studying neural mechanisms of decision making and memory, cellular mechanisms of sensory information processing, molecular mechanisms in the brain for learning and development, evolution of inter-individual communication, etc.

Teachers

Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Understanding the Birth and Formation of Life

Our goal is to understand the mechanism of gametogenesis, fertilization, and development. Our laboratories, mainly using vertebrates, investigate the molecular mechanism of oogenesis and ovulation, the gene regulation in spermatogenesis, the molecular mechanism of sex differentiation, and the action mechanism of steroid hormones and the molecular evolution of its receptors. All of these are critical issues in life science, leading to application such as in vitro fertilization, contraception, and generation of useful organisms.

Teachers

Ecological Genetics

Understanding the Mechanisms Underlying Biodiversity in Fluctuating Environments

This course aims to understand and research genetic diversity and genetic mechanisms in a variety of organisms including mammals, insects, and plants, as well as biological dynamics, interactions, and adaptations under environmental fluctuations from various perspectives including genetics, molecular biology, and ecology.

Teachers

Environmental Molecular Biology

Understanding the Influence of Environmental Condition on the Activity of Living Organisms

Focusing on microorganisms, plants, insects and mammals, this course aims to understand the influence of environmental conditions on these living organisms and their mechanisms underlying environmental adaptations at the cellular level. Based on these studies’ outcome, this course promotes cutting-edge research and education to develop environmental biotechnology and to generate high-performance organisms.

Teachers

Marine Station (Muroran, Akkeshi, Oshoro)

Understanding the Essence of Marine Biology Facing a Vast Expanse of North Sea

Hokkaido is surrounded with three different seas; the Pacific Ocean, the Okhotsk sea and the Japan sea. Long coastal line of Hokkaido has various environments. Akkeshi, Muroran and Oshoro Marine Stations belong to Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, and face on the Eastern Pacific, the Western Pacific and the Japan sea in Hokkaido. Each station is influenced by cold Oyashio current (Kuril Current), Tsugaru warm and Oyashio currents, and Tsushima warm current, respectively, and different marine organisms are growing there. The aim of our research is to elucidate effect of changes in the marine environment and conserve diversity and ecosystem, and understand activity of marine organisms from the views of different marine environments.

Teachers

Unraveling the 'WHY' in the living world!

Our Research Field

Our Research Field

Biodiversity

Study of Biodiversity and Evolution

Cell Structure and Function

Understanding the Organismal Adaptation and Growth in the Changing Environments from the Perspectives of Cellular Function

Behavioral Neurobiology

Understanding the Mysteries of Brain and Behavior

Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Understanding the Birth and Formation of Life

Ecological Genetics

Understanding the Mechanisms Underlying Biodiversity in Fluctuating Environments

Environmental Molecular Biology

Understanding the Influence of Environmental Condition on the Activity of Living Organisms

Marine Station (Muroran, Akkeshi, Oshoro)

Understanding the Essence of Marine Biology Facing a Vast Expanse of North Sea