Joseph Hanly

Joseph Hanly is a Postdoctoral Scientist in the Department of Biological Sciences at George Washington University, affiliated with the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying adaptive coloration and wing pattern evolution in butterflies, particularly Heliconius spp. and related taxa. He employs genomic, transcriptomic, and experimental approaches to study gene regulation, convergent evolution, and the evolution of novel traits.

Research interests include the role of noncoding RNAs, cis-regulatory elements, and signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt) in patterning butterfly wings, as well as the evolutionary dynamics of genome structure and gene networks. His work bridges developmental biology, genetics, and evolutionary biology, with applications to understanding biodiversity and adaptation.

Key contributions include studies on the cortex locus controlling scale cell identity, the genetic basis of iridescence, and the molecular mechanisms of wing pattern diversification. Hanly collaborates with Dr. Arnaud Martin’s lab and has published extensively on topics such as single-cell transcriptomics, CRISPR-based gene editing, and the evolutionary origins of mimicry.

His articles reflect a focus on integrative approaches to unraveling the genetic architecture of complex traits, with implications for understanding how new traits arise and are maintained in nature.