


A major goal of evolutionary genomics is to understand the phenotypic and fitness consequences of derived alleles (single gene copies). My research uses physiology, epigenetics, and genomics to understand the genetic basis of complex traits, how complex traits evolve, and how and why organisms employ different genetic and molecular mechanisms to alter their traits in response to the environment.
Science is better when we do it together! While my work is driven by a desire to investigate questions of evolutionary biology and genetics I was first inspired to pursue a research career when wonderful people who accepted me and welcomed my perspectives included me in cool science. I strive to be inclusive in my work and value diverse perspectives and ideas.
Recent Articles
Contact
Drown M.K., Oleksiak M.F., and Crawford, D.L. Trans-acting genotypes drive mRNA expression affecting metabolic and thermal tolerance traits. Genome Biology and Evolution.
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Flack N., Drown M.K., Walls C., Pratte J., McLain A., Faulk C. Chromosome-level, nanopore-only genome and allele-specific DNA methylation of Pallas’s cat, Otocolobus manul. Nucleic Acids: Bioinformatics.
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Drown, M.K., DeLiberto, A.N., Flack, N., Doyle, M., Westover, A.W., Proefrock, J.C., ... & Oleksiak, M.F. (2022). Sequencing bait: Nuclear and mitogenome assembly of an abundant coastal tropical and subtropical fish, Atherinomorus stipes. Genome Biology and Evolution.
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Drown, M.K., Crawford, D.L., & Oleksiak, M.F. (2022). Transcriptomic analysis provides insights into molecular mechanisms of thermal physiology. BMC genomics, 23(1), 1-19.

Email: drown017@umn.edu
Twitter: @melissakd6

Contact
Email: drown017@umn.edu
Twitter: @melissakd6