Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a substrate for selecting and specifically influencing the function of cells by the adhesion thereof to substrate surfaces having prescribed properties. Said substrates comprise various surface regions each representing a condition affecting the cell adhesion and/or cell function, and said conditions are determined by a geometric property and/or a mechanical property or a combination of a geometric property and/or a mechanical property with a chemical property of each surface region. The invention further relates to analysis devices and to analysis methods using said substrates for identifying and selecting particular cell types, for identifying suitable substrate conditions for affecting a particular cell function or particular cell type or for identifying disease states characterized by a change in the cell type or cell function.