Author

Melissa K. Drown

University of MinnesotaORCID 0000-0002-7350-984XUnclaimed ORCID profile · follow to get notified of new preprints

Biology Disciplines

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Genetics· 2 Genomics· 2 Evolutionary Biology· 1

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Approach:experimental assay· 3 Assay:bulk RNA-seq· 2 Research Focus:differential expression· 2 Approach:statistical model· 2 Assay:whole-genome sequencing· 2 Assay:DNA methylation· 1 Organism:Drosophila· 1 Research Focus:gene regulatory network inference· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Christopher D. FaulkiD· 3 shared Carrie Walls· 2 shared Douglas L. CrawfordiD· 2 shared Marjorie F. OleksiakiD· 2 shared Nicole FlackiD· 2 shared Adam T. McLain· 1 shared Amelia R. I. LindseyiD· 1 shared Anna Youtsey· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2022-2026 · peak 2/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 16 mutual co-author links

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3 shared papersGenomics

Christopher D. FaulkORCID

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Author profile →

5 papers

Recent·Most cited

Genomics and reproductive biology of Leptopilina n. sp. Buffington, Lue, Davis & Tracey sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Figitidae): An asexual parasitoid of Caribbean Drosophila

Amelia R. I. Lindsey, Chia‐Hua Lue, Jeremy S. Davis, Lydia J. Borjon, Stephanie E. Mauthner, Laura C Fricke, Anna Youtsey, Lauren Eads, Molly Murphy, Melissa K. Drown, Christopher D. Faulk, Matthew L. Buffington, William Daniel Tracey

This paper describes a new parasitoid wasp species, Leptopilina n. sp., and presents its genome, Wolbachia endosymbiont, and reproductive biology.

Genetics · Jan 31, 2026Peer-reviewedEvolutionary Biology

Epigenetic plasticity is a driver of heritable pollution tolerance in Atlantic killifish

Mathia Colwell, Melissa K. Drown, Nicole Flack, Carrie Walls, Christopher D. Faulk, Samantha Carrothers, Emma Weeks, Caren Weinhouse

The paper shows that PAH-tolerant Atlantic killifish embryos have reduced DNA methylation plasticity compared to sensitive embryos, with implications for heritable epigenetic adaptation.

bioRxiv · Dec 22, 2025 · PreprintGenomics

Chromosome-level, nanopore-only genome and allele-specific DNA methylation of Pallas's cat, Otocolobus manul

Nicole Flack, Melissa K. Drown, Carrie Walls, Jay Pratte, Adam T. McLain, Christopher D. Faulk

The paper assembles a chromosome-level genome and allele-specific DNA methylation map for Pallas's cat using nanopore sequencing.

NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics · Mar 29, 2023Peer-reviewedGenomics

Trans-Acting Genotypes Drive mRNA Expression Affecting Metabolic And Thermal Tolerance Traits

Melissa K. Drown, Marjorie F. Oleksiak, Douglas L. Crawford

The paper identifies trans-acting eQTLs driving mRNA expression linked to physiological traits in killifish, showing most eQTLs are trans-acting rather than cis-acting.

bioRxiv · Jan 15, 2023 · PreprintGenetics

mRNA expression explains metabolic and thermal physiology

Melissa K. Drown, Douglas L. Crawford, Marjorie F. Oleksiak

The paper uses mRNA expression data from fish populations acclimated to different temperatures to explain variation in physiological traits, finding tissue-specific co-expression patterns that explain up to 82% of trait variation.

bioRxiv · Jan 19, 2022 · PreprintGenetics