Daniel J. McKay

Daniel J. McKay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology and Genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on understanding how genomes direct cell fate decisions during development using Drosophila as a model system. Key interests include transcription factor regulation of chromatin accessibility and epigenetic mechanisms mediated by histone modifications.

Research in the McKay Lab integrates genomic approaches like ChIP-seq with Drosophila genetics to study gene expression dynamics and their role in diseases like cancer. The lab’s work bridges fundamental developmental biology with insights into human health applications.

Key Research Themes:

• Chromatin accessibility and transcription factor interactions
• Epigenetic regulation via histone post-translational modifications
• Genetic engineering of histone gene clusters

Recent publications emphasize discoveries about histone H3 variants, Polycomb silencing mechanisms, and enhancer regulation in developmental contexts. The lab is actively recruiting postdoctoral and graduate researchers interested in developmental genomics.