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Daniel McKay, PhD – Genetics and Molecular Biology Curriculum

Daniel McKay, PhD

Director, Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology (GMB)

Associate Professor

Contact Information

Address

McKay Lab at UNC Chapel Hill:
3344 Genome Sciences Building
Campus Box #3280
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Office:
3358 Genome Sciences Building
Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Resources

Daniel McKay, PhD

Director, Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology (GMB)

Associate Professor

About

  • Mentorship Training Completions:
  • Culturally Aware Mentoring Badge
  • OGE Mentoring Workshop Badge
  • Safe Zone Training Badge
  • Department Affiliations:
  • Department of Biology; Department of Genetics; Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences

Research in the lab focuses on how a single genome gives rise to a variety of cell types and body parts during development. We use Drosophila as a model organism to investigate (1) how transcription factors access DNA to regulate complex patterns of gene expression, and (2) how post-translational modification of histones contributes to maintenance of gene expression programs over time. We combine genomic approaches (e.g. chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing) with Drosophila genetics and transgenesis to address both of these questions. Defects in cell fate specification and maintenance of cell identity often occur in human diseases, including cancer.