# Department of Molecular Biology Göttingen
**Wikidata**: [Q48906839](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48906839)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/department-of-molecular-biology-gottingen

## Summary
The Department of Molecular Biology Göttingen is a research institute dedicated to the systematic investigation and generation of new knowledge in the field of molecular biology. It operates as a distinct organizational unit under the parent organization Universitätsmedizin Göttingen. Since 2010, the institute has been directed by Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Research institute (organization whose primary purpose is research).
- **Parent Organization:** Universitätsmedizin Göttingen.
- **Leadership:** Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro serves as the Director/Manager.
- **Leadership Start Date:** Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro began her tenure in 2010.
- **Functional Classification:** Mapped to `schema.org/ResearchOrganization` and identified by the Geonames feature code `S.ITTR`.
- **Library Classification:** Falls under Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 and Library of Congress authority ID `sh85113043`.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the organizational structure of the Department of Molecular Biology Göttingen?
The department is classified as a research institute, an operational entity specifically designed to conduct hands-on investigation rather than functioning as a membership-based society. It is a sub-unit or affiliated body of the larger Universitätsmedizin Göttingen.

### Q: Who leads the Department of Molecular Biology Göttingen?
Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro has served as the director and manager of the department since 2010.

### Q: How does this department differ from a teaching university?
As a research institute, its primary purpose is to conduct research and generate new knowledge, distinct from universities that typically balance research with teaching and degree-granting obligations.

## Why It Matters
As a dedicated research institute, the Department of Molecular Biology Göttingen serves as a focused engine of scientific discovery. Unlike institutions that divide attention between teaching and commercial application, this entity exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. It provides an environment where scientists can pursue specific inquiries in molecular biology, facilitated by the resources and infrastructure of the Universitätsmedizin Göttingen. This focus allows for the acceleration of breakthroughs in medicine and biology free from the distractions of undergraduate education or purely policy-driven objectives.

## Notable For
- **Specific Focus:** Dedicated exclusively to molecular biology research, differentiating it from broad-spectrum think tanks or policy centers.
- **Medical Affiliation:** Operating under the Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, linking basic molecular research directly to medical application.
- **Defined Leadership:** Notable for having continuous leadership under Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro starting in 2010.
- **Standardized Classification:** Recognized globally under specific library and geographic identifiers (e.g., GND ID 4017909-6, Geonames code S.ITTR).

## Body

### Organizational Classification and Status
The Department of Molecular Biology Göttingen is formally classified as a **research institute**. This classification defines it as an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research. In the landscape of knowledge-producing institutions, it represents a distinct form that prioritizes systematic investigation over teaching or commercial manufacturing.

The entity is distinguished from other organization types such as:
*   **Scientific/Learned Societies:** It is an operational body conducting investigations, not a membership organization for professionals.
*   **Think Tanks:** It focuses on fundamental scientific inquiry in molecular biology rather than policy-oriented research intended to influence government decisions.
*   **Universities:** While affiliated with a medical center (Universitätsmedizin Göttingen), the institute's functional definition centers on research generation, separate from the broad degree-granting mission of a university.

### Leadership and Management
The institute is managed by **Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro**, who holds the title of Director/Manager. Her tenure in this leadership position began in **2010**. This leadership structure ensures the operational management of the institute's primary research missions.

### Institutional Affiliation
The Department functions as a part of the **Universitätsmedizin Göttingen** (University Medical Center Göttingen). This parent organization relationship places the Department of Molecular Biology within a larger medical context, facilitating the integration of basic molecular research with medical practice and broader healthcare objectives.

### Technical and Cataloging Standards
The concept of the research institute, as applied to this entity, is supported by extensive global recognition and standardization:
*   **Library Standards:** It aligns with Dewey Decimal Classification **001.406** and Library of Congress authority ID **sh85113043**.
*   **Data Mapping:** For structured data purposes, the entity type is mapped to `schema.org/ResearchOrganization`.
*   **Global Recognition:** The concept of the research institute (the class to which this entity belongs) is recognized across 41 Wikipedia language editions and utilizes the Geonames feature code **S.ITTR**.