The Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic is dedicated to basic research in the fields of physiology, genetics, ecology, and evolution. Using animals as model organisms, we study how living organisms function – from genes and cells to entire populations and ecosystems – and what processes govern their development, adaptation to changing environmental conditions, and the emergence of biological diversity. We also investigate what influences these processes and what are the consequences of their disruption, and our findings help explain processes associated with human health and disease.