Stacey L. Hanlon

Stacey L. Hanlon serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology / Genetics and Genomics at the University of Connecticut. Her research program focuses on the fundamental mechanisms ensuring fair chromosome transmission during meiosis, with particular emphasis on selfish genetic elements.

Education:

• B.S. in Biology from Texas A&M University
• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the University of California, San Francisco
• Postdoctoral training at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research

Dr. Hanlon's research investigates how cells counteract "genetic renegades" that attempt to subvert fair meiotic transmission. Her laboratory employs Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to study B chromosomes and female meiotic drive mechanisms using classical genetics combined with modern cell biology approaches. Current work examines the dynamics of selfish genetic elements during female gametogenesis and the cellular systems evolved to suppress their transmission advantage.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on chromosome biology and non-Mendelian inheritance systems. Her work spans molecular characterization of satellite DNA, structural analysis of supernumerary chromosomes, and mechanistic studies of meiotic drive suppression systems. Recent publications demonstrate increasing sophistication in genomic and cytological approaches to understanding chromosome transmission fidelity.

Scientific Recognition:

• GENETICS December 2018 Highlight for research on B chromosome structure
• Co-editor of Special Issue on "Non-Mendelian Inheritance and Meiotic Drive" in Chromosome Research (2022)

Dr. Hanlon maintains an active research program through the Hanlon Lab, where her team investigates the evolutionary arms race between selfish genetic elements and host suppression mechanisms. Her work bridges classical genetics with modern genomic approaches to address fundamental questions about chromosome transmission and genome evolution. The laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining cytology, molecular biology, and evolutionary analysis to dissect the mechanisms ensuring fair meiosis.