SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                               -----------------

                                   FORM 8-A



               FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES

                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                              CURAGEN CORPORATION
                          ---------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                   Delaware                               06-133140
 ---------------------------------------       --------------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)       (IRS Employer Identification No.)



        555 LONG WHARF DRIVE, 11TH FLOOR, NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT  06511
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)



If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please check the
following box.  [_]

If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c)(2), please check the following box.  [_]

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                     NONE

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:


                    Common Stock, $.01 Par Value Per Share
                    --------------------------------------
                               (Title of Class)



                           Total Number of Pages: 3

 
Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities To Be Registered.
         -------------------------------------------------------
 
         The Registrant incorporates herein by reference the following portions
of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Registrant
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on October 15, 1997 as the same
may be subsequently amended by amendments to the Registration Statement, and, to
the extent applicable, such portions of any prospectus relating to such
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended:

         Description of Capital Stock

                   --  Common Stock
                   --  Preferred Stock
                   --  Registration Rights
                   --  Delaware Law and Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions

Item 2.  Exhibits.
         -------- 

         The Registrant incorporates herein by reference the following Exhibits
to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Registrant
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on October 15, 1997 as the same
may be subsequently amended by amendments to the Registration Statement:


          (1)  Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
               Registrant, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on
               Form S-1 filed on October 15, 1997.

          (2)  Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, filed as Exhibit
               3.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on October
               15, 1997.

          (3)  Specimen Certificate representing the Common Stock, filed as
               Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on
               October 15, 1997.



                                       2

 
                                   SIGNATURE



         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.



                              CURAGEN CORPORATION



                              By: /s/ Jonathan M. Rothberg, Ph.D.
                                 ------------------------------------------
                                 Jonathan M. Rothberg, Ph.D.,
                                 Chief Executive Officer, President and
                                 Chairman of the Board



Dated:  October 15, 1997