Faculty Support: Erin Ciccone

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

Filiault, D. L., E. S. Ballerini, T. Mandáková, G. Aköz, N. J. Derieg, J. Schmutz, J. Jenkins, J. Grimwood, S. Shu, R. D. Hayes, U. Hellsten, K. Barry, J. Yan, S. Mihaltcheva, M. Karafiátová, V. Nizhynska, E. M. Kramer, M. A. Lysak, S. A. Hodges, M. Nordborg. (2018) The Aquilegia genome provides insight into adaptive radiation and reveals an extraordinarily polymorphic chromosome with a unique history. eLife, 10.7554/eLife.36426. 

Min, Y., Bunn, J.I., E. M. Kramer. (2018) Homologs of the STYLISH gene family control nectary development in Aquilegia. New Phytologist, in press, doi: 10.1111/nph.15406.

Sharma, B., E. M. Kramer. (2017) Aquilegia B gene homologs promote petaloidy of the sepals and maintenance of the C domain boundary. EvoDevo, 8:22.   

Min, Y., Kramer, E. M. (2017) The Aquilegia JAGGED homolog promotes proliferation of adaxial cell types in both leaves and stems. New Phytologist, DOI: 10.1111/nph.14282.

Yant, L., S. Collani, J. R. Puzey, C. Levy, and E. M. Kramer. (2015) Molecular basis for three-dimensional elaboration of the Aquilegia petal spur. Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Science, London, Series B, 282: 20142778.