欧洲分子生物学实验室EMBL（European Molecular Biology Laboratory）1974年由欧洲14个国家加上亚洲的以色列共同发起建立，现由欧洲30个成员国政府支持组成，目的在于促进欧洲国家之间的合作来发展分子生物学的基础研究和改进仪器设备、教育工作等。EMBL分为7个部分：结构、分化、物理仪器、生化仪器、生物仪器、计算机和应用数学。它的宗旨是：从事结构分子生物学及分子医学方面的基础研究；为科学家、学生及访问学者提供高层次的培训；为成员国的科学家提供必需的科研服务；在生命科学领域开发新型的科研仪器及研究方法；积极参与生物技术的转化及应用。
EMBL除了位于德国海德堡(Heidelberg)的总部外在欧洲还有几处分站：英国的茵格斯顿(Hinxton)分站、法国格勒诺布尔(Grenoble)分站、德国汉堡(Hamburg)分站，意大利蒙特罗顿多(Rome)分站和西班牙马塞罗那(Barcelona)分站。其中，英国的生物信息学研究所EBI（European Bioinformatics Institute）于1982年建立了先进的核苷酸序列数据库（EMBL-DNA），可进行核苷酸序列检索及序列相似性查询，该数据库与美国的GenBank及日本的DDBJ共同组成全球性的国际DNA数据库。近年来数据库发展很快，数据量成倍递增。由于具有开放和创新的良好学术氛围，EMBL已发展成欧洲最重要和最核心的分子生物学基础研究和教育培训机构。
European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) was jointly initiated by 14 European countries and Israel in Asia in 1974, and is now supported by 30 European member governments. The aim is to promote cooperation between European countries to develop basic research in molecular biology and improve equipment, education, etc. The EMBL is divided into 7 sections: Structure, Differentiation, Physical Instruments, Biochemical Instruments, Biological Instruments, Computers, and Applied Mathematics. Its purpose is to engage in basic research in structural molecular biology and molecular medicine; Providing high-level training for scientists, students and visiting scholars; Providing essential research services to scientists in member states; To develop new instruments and research methods in the field of life science; Actively participate in the transformation and application of biotechnology.
EMBL has several stations in Europe besides its headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany: There are stations in Hinxton (UK), Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Monrotondo (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain). Among them, the British Bioinformatics Institute EBI (European Bioinformatics Institute) established an advanced nucleotide sequence database (EMBL-DNA) in 1982, which could be used for nucleotide sequence retrieval and sequence similarity query. The database, along with GenBank of the US and DDBJ of Japan, forms the global international DNA database. In recent years, the database develops rapidly, and the data volume increases exponentially. With a good academic atmosphere of openness and innovation, EMBL has developed into the most important and core institution for basic research and education and training of molecular biology in Europe.