Research Interests:

Research interests center on molecular and forensic genetics. A major focus of the Danielson laboratory is the development of advanced technologies to separate DNA mixtures in forensic samples. This can provide potentially probative evidence by enabling the characterization of individual contributors to a mixture such as in sexual assaults. Additional forensic projects are aimed at aiding criminal and mass disaster investigations by facilitating the use of mitochondrial DNA to identify charred or severely decomposed human remains. The Danielson laboratory is also interested in the interface between molecular neuroendocrinology and the molecular evolution of multi-gene superfamilies. Current projects in this area focus on the opioid/orphanin family of neuropeptide hormone precursors and the molecular regulation of the HPA axis as it relates to the post-spawning demise of Pacific Salmon.

Techniques employed in the Danielson laboratory include recombinant DNA technology, denaturing HPLC, forensic DNA profiling, quantitative real-time PCR, MALDI-TOF and ESI mass spectroscopy and high-throughput robotics. Funded by NIJ Grant 2003-IJ-CX-K104, “Mitochondrial DNA Analysis by Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for the Characterization and Separation of Mixtures in Forensic Samples”, NIH grant 1 R15 DK060557-01 “Molecular Genetics of the HPA(I) Axis” and by NSF grant IBN-9810516, "Opioid-Coding Genes: Evolution in Lungfish and Amphibians".

Link to Danielson Publication List

Recent Publications:

• Danielson, P.B. and Kristinsson, R. (2007) Detection of Sequence Polymorphisms in the HV1 and HV2 Regions of Human Mitochondrial DNA by Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Journal of Forensic Sciences (In Press)
• Danielson, P.B., Sun, H-Y, Melton, T., and Kristinsson, R. (2007) Resolving mtDNA Mixtures by Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Linkage Phase Determination. FSI Genetics 1:148-153. (INVITED MANUSCRIPT)
• Westring, CG, Kristinsson, R., Gilbert, DM, and Danielson, P.B. (2007) Reduced Volume Protocol for Optimized Quantification of Genomic DNA using the Quantifiler™ Human DNA kit. Journal of Forensic Science (In Press)
• Danielson, P.B. (2005) Mitochondrial DNA Analysis by Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for the Characterization and Separation of Mixtures in Forensic Samples. Peer reviewed report for electronic release under NIJ cover.
• Danielson, P.B., Kristinsson, R., Shelton, R.J. and LaBerge, G.S. (2005) Separating Human DNA Mixtures using Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (DHPLC). Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics 5(1):53-63. INVITED REVIEW ARTICLE
• Khalap A., Bagrosky, B., Lecaude, S., Youson, J, Danielson, P., and Dores, R.M. (2005) Trends in the Evolution of the Proenkephalin and Prodynorphin Genes in Gnathostomes. Proceedings of the New York Academy of Science, 1040:22-37.