In embryology, anlage is the primordium, the initial clustering of embryonic cells that serves as a foundation from which a body part or an organ develops. Failure to progress past this stage in organ development is known as agenesis.

In genetics, anlage is often used synonymous with allele or gene. The genetic use of the term goes back to Gregor Mendel who explained his observations on peas as being caused by dominant and recessive Anlagen (alleles).

In psychoanalysis, anlage is a predisposition to a given personality characteristic or a trait.