Genetics, Development and Cell Biology

What Genetics, Development and Cell Biology does

Genetics, Development and Cell Biology (GDCB) is an academic department within Iowa State University of Science and Technology, a public land-grant research university founded in 1858. The department delivers undergraduate and graduate education and conducts research in genetics, developmental biology, and cell biology, operating as a college-level unit within the broader ISU ecosystem of 31,105 enrolled students (Fall 2025) and 100+ degree programs, minors, and certificates.

GDCB's core activity is teaching and research in three interrelated life-science disciplines, supported by faculty described as globally recognized scholars and the institutional infrastructure of an R1 research university on a 1,900-acre campus in Ames, Iowa. The department benefits from cross-listing with the 61% STEM-major student population and from cross-departmental research and advising dependencies that anchor it within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

As a non-profit, publicly funded academic unit, GDCB's revenue mechanics rely on state appropriations, tuition apportionment, and extramural research grants rather than direct commercial pricing. The department's forward positioning is shaped by ISU-level initiatives, including international transfer agreements with Malaysian universities (INTI, MCKL, Sunway, Taylor's), the STEAM Innovation Academy partnership with EdPrograms, and external recognition such as a Top 10 Princeton Review entrepreneurship ranking and Top 5% Money Magazine best-value ranking. No direct GDCB financial, headcount, or product-line disclosures are provided in the source material.

Name

Genetics, Development and Cell Biology

Legal name

Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Website

https://iastate.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1858

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Genetics, Development and Cell Biology is an academic department at Iowa State University that delivers undergraduate and graduate education and conducts research in genetics, developmental biology, and cell biology for a STEM-major student population.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Life Sciences

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHABAB

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Private Research Universities

SECONDARYHLAAALAD

Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Diagnostics (Biotech-related)

Keywords

• Genetics education
• Cell biology research
• Developmental biology
• Academic life sciences
• Graduate research programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from tuition and fees charged to enrolled students based on residency status, level of study, and program. International students are required to demonstrate financial resources of $49,300 minimum.
2. Financial Aid Services: University administers financial aid packages consisting of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities to support student enrollment.
3. Student Employment: On-campus employment opportunities for students including work-study and non work-study positions, with the Student Employment Center (SEC) operating a job board.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Genetics, Development and Cell Biology (GDCB) is an academic department within Iowa State University that delivers higher education instruction and conducts scientific research in the fields of genetics, developmental biology, and cell biology. The department supports undergraduate and graduate degree pathways, faculty-led research, and laboratory-based training within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Graduate College.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% first-year student participation in learning communities
• +3 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INTI University CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalaysia transfer agreement allowing students to transfer credits from INTI University College to Iowa State University.
• MCKL (Methodist College Kuala Lumpur)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalaysia transfer agreement allowing students to transfer credits from MCKL to Iowa State University.
• Sunway UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalaysia transfer agreement allowing students to transfer credits from Sunway University to Iowa State University.
• Taylor's University CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalaysia transfer agreement allowing students to transfer credits from Taylor's University College to Iowa State University.
• EdProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdPrograms delivers the STEAM Innovation Academy summer camp in partnership with Iowa State University, designed for international high school students to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
• National Student ExchangeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIowa State participates in the National Student Exchange program allowing students to study at other member institutions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Michigan State University: Michigan State is a Big Ten land-grant research university with substantial basic and life sciences research infrastructure, including genetics and cell biology departments. Closely comparable to Iowa State in size, land-grant mission, STEM focus, and Big Ten recruitment footprint.
• North Carolina State University: NC State is an ACC land-grant research university with strong life sciences and genetics programs, particularly through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Closely comparable on land-grant mission, STEM emphasis, and engineering/life sciences orientation.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: UIUC is a Big Ten public research university with the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology covering genetics and cell biology. Comparable STEM research focus and land-grant-adjacent mission, with deeper federal research funding than Iowa State.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison: UW-Madison is a Big Ten public research university with strong genetics, cell biology, and developmental biology programs and significant NIH funding. Comparable STEM research focus, though materially larger in research expenditure and national ranking.
• Penn State University: Penn State is a Big Ten land-grant research university with the Eberly College of Science covering genetics and developmental biology. Directly comparable on land-grant mission, multi-college structure including agriculture/life sciences, and STEM enrollment scale.
• Texas A&M University: Texas A&M is a major SEC land-grant research university with a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Department of Biology covering genetics and cell biology. Comparable on land-grant mission, STEM-heavy enrollment, and large public research university scale.
• Purdue University: Purdue is a Big Ten land-grant research university with strong STEM and life sciences programs including genetics and cell biology. Directly comparable to Iowa State on land-grant mission, STEM focus, and 61% STEM-major concentration, and competes for similar out-of-state and international STEM applicants.
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities: The University of Minnesota is a Big Ten public research university with the College of Biological Sciences covering genetics, cell biology, and developmental biology. Comparable STEM research focus and Big Ten public research university scale.
• Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech is an ACC land-grant research university with the College of Science covering genetics and cell biology. Comparable on land-grant mission, STEM-heavy enrollment, and public research university structure.

Regional players

• Kansas State University: Kansas State is a Big 12 land-grant research university with comparable College of Agriculture and life sciences programs. Similar size and land-grant mission to Iowa State, with overlapping recruitment in the central US agriculture and life sciences ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gdcbisu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/isunewsservice
• Facebookfacebook.com/GDCBISU
• Instagraminstagram.com/iowastateu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Genetics, Development and Cell Biology