Two centuries of arts and science in Nice and Villefranche sur Mer: 2) Modern era: 1960 to 2024

In a first, companion article (Sardet 2025 / 1 Pioneers: 1800 to 1900) we tell the story of the exploration of biodiversity in the Nice region, and in particular of pelagic organisms. In this second article we examine how, more than a century later, research in cell and developmental biology and in physiology evolved at the marine station of Villefranche sur Mer. While research in the biology and ecology of plankton remained predominant at the site, and gradually led to the growth of a large multidisciplinary laboratory (Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche: LOV), physiology and cell biology were introduced in the 1960s as research teams on the physiology of fish and biology of protists joined the marine station. In the 1980s a new research group was created by the CNRS which has grown to the present Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement (LBDV). We describe how imaging and molecular biology techniques were used to understand fertilization and development in sea urchins, tunicates, cnidarians, and many other marine organisms previously studied by the founders and visitors of the marine station in the 19th century. We also detail the development of new model organisms – the ascidian Phallusia, the appendicularian Oikopleura and the hydrozoan medusa Clytia. Finally we discuss the promotion of scientific discoveries via aesthetic photographs, drawings, exhibits and web sites.