Elena M. Kramer

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Phone: 617-496-3460
E-mail:
Office: 1112 Biolabs, 16 Divinity Ave

Lab Website: http://www.oeb.harvard.edu/faculty/kramer

My lab is very broadly interested in the evolution of floral morphology. We use molecular, morphological, and phylogenetic approaches to study how flowers have changed over the course of evolutionary time. Research projects in the lab cover a diverse set of topics, including gene lineage evolution and the effects of gene duplication, the morphological diversification of floral parts such as petals and fruits, and the evolutionary and ecological significance of pollinator interactions. Within this context, one of our major focus areas is the development of Aquilegia (columbine) as a new system for studying evolutionary and ecological questions.

Recent Publications

Gould, B. and E. M. Kramer. 2007. Virus-induced gene silencing as a tool for functional analyses in the emerging model plant Aquilegia (columbine, Ranunculaceae). Plant Methods 3:6.

Kramer, E. M., L. Holappa, B. Gould, M. A. Jaramillo, D. Setnikov, and P. Santiago. 2007. Elaboration of B gene function to include the identity of novel floral organs in the lower eudicot Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae). Plant Cell 19:750-766.

M. A. Jaramillo and E. M. Kramer. 2007. The role of developmental genetics in understanding homology and morphological evolution in plants. International Journal of Plant Science 168:61-72.

E. M. Kramer, H.-J. Su, C.-C. Wu, J.-M.Hu. 2006. A simplified explanation for the frameshift mutation that created a novel C-terminal motif in the APETALA3 gene lineage. BMC Evolutionary Biology 6:30.

Hall, J. H., T. E. Tisdale, K. Donohue and E. M. Kramer. 2006. Developmental basis of an anatomical novelty: heteroarthrocarpy in Cakile lanceolata and Erucaria erucarioides (Brassicaceae). International Journal of Plant Science 167:771-789.

See complete publications list.

Courses Taught

OEB 52: Biology of Plants
OEB 106: Plant Development and Differentiation
OEB 268r: Topics in Plant Developmental Genetics