My research interests are in the areas of molecular evolution and the way that gene frequencies change over the course of time in populations of organisms. On-going work involves characterizing the way that a gene's context influences the mutations it accumulates as well as determining the role of highly repeated elements that constitute as much as 15% of the DNA within mammalian nuclei. Other studies involve use and development of computer-based expert systems to evaluate DNA evidence in criminal investigations.

We have also developed a technique that allows us to quickly and precisely measure the amount of genetic diversity a population harbors at a molecular level. Since high levels of genetic diversity better allow groups of organisms to respond to stresses they encounter in their environments it is also an excellent measure of the population's vigor and productivity. Environmental insults such as pollution can significantly diminish a naturally occurring population's genetic diversity however and we are currently using out methodology to more closely examine the true impact of such events.

Representative Publications:

Paoletti, D. R., T. E. Doom, M. L. Raymer and D. E. Krane.  Assessing the implications for close relatives in the event of similar but non-matching DNA profiles.  Accepted for publication in the winter 2006 issue of Jurimetrics.

Paoletti, D. R., T. E. Doom, C. M. Krane, M. L. Raymer and D. E. Krane.  Empirical analysis of the STR profiles resulting from conceptual mixtures. Journal of Forensic Sciences, November 2005, 50 (6): 1361-1366.

Doom, T., M. Raymer, and D. Krane. 2004. Bioinformatics: Where biology meets computer science. IEEE Potentials 23: 24-28.

Krane, D. E., T. E. Doom, L. D. Mueller, M. L. Raymer, W. M. Shields and W. C. Thompson. Commentary on “CODIS STR loci data from 41 sample populations.” Journal of Forensic Sciences, November 2004, 49 (6).

Gilder, J. R., S. Ford, T. E. Doom, M. L. Raymer and D. E. Krane . Differences in electropherogram peak heights reported by different versions of the GeneScan software. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2004 49:92-95.

Krane, D. E. and W. C. Thompson. 2003. DNA in the courtroom. Psychological and Scientific Evidence in Criminal Trials, Chapter 11, edited by Jane Campbell Moriarty, West, Danvers , MA .

Krane, D. E. , M. L. Raymer, and T. E. Doom. 2003. An interdisciplinary bioinformatics program. The Journal of College Science Teaching XXXII :296.

Thompson, W. C., S. Ford, T. Doom, M. L. Raymer and D. E. Krane . 2003. Evaluating forensic DNA evidence: Essential elements in a competent defense review. The Champion XXVII: April, 2003:16-25; and May, 2003: 24-28.

Pilgrim, E. M., S. A. Roush and D. E. Krane . 2002. Combining DNA sequences and morphology in systematics: testing the validity of the dragonfly species Cordulegaster bilineata . Heredity 89: 184-190.

Krane, D.E., D. Sternburg and G.A. Burton. 1999. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-profile-based measures of genetic diversity in crayfish are correlated with environmental impacts. J. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 18: 504-508.

Sawyer, S., A. Podleski, D.E. Krane and D. Hartl. 1996. DNA fingerprinting loci do show population differences. Am. J. Hum. Genet., 59: 272-274.

Krane, D.E., R.W. Allen, S.A. Sawyer, D.A. Petrov and D.L. Hartl. 1992. Genetic differences at four DNA typing loci in Finnish, Italian, and mixed Caucasian populations. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 89: 10583-10587.

Textbooks:
Krane, D.E. and M. Raymer. Fundamental Concepts of Bioinformatics . 313 pages, 2003. Benjamin-Cummings, San Francisco .