Projects are related to quality control of DNA and cultures in the Repositories, for identification, verification of family pedigrees, gender analysis, genetic mapping, and DNA and RNA isolation.

Comment by Dr. Bender: "The molecular characterization of CCR distributed cells offers the research community a rich source of defined cells that allow scientists to select the best cells for their research program and pursue the discovery of new factors associated with disease."

Current research efforts of the Molecular Biology Laboratory include the development of methods for the purification and preservation of genetic material from ancient tissues (mummified) and non-human primate tissues, identification of molecular mechanisms associated with cell aging and loss of cell growth potential, identification of genetic polymorphisms associated with asthma, and the molecular diagnosis of genetic disorders within the collections of the Coriell Cell Repositories.

Because new developments in science technology are emerging that allow determination of differences and similarities in the gene expression profiles of cells (eg. sequence-array chip technology), the Molecular Biology Laboratory is initiating new efforts in the application of sequence-arrays to the study of cell aging. In addition, this laboratory anticipates increased efforts in the Primate Resource Initiative with emphasis on the development of primate sequence-array chips for the classification of African primates based on mitochondrial sequences. Efforts in classifying human mummified remains based on human sequence-array chips are also on-going to better understand human origins and the migration patterns of the human species.

Dr. Bender received his Ph.D. degree in Biophysics from the University of Virginia in 1981. The area of his studies was cell biology under the mentorship of Dr. Lionel I. Rebhun. His postdoctoral work was funded by a fellowship from the Muscular Dystrophy Association and was undertaken initially in the laboratory of Dr. John R. Dedman and later in the laboratory of Dr. Charles P. Emerson.

In 1984 , Dr. Bender received an appointment as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Virginia, directing an independent research program in the study of gene regulation in muscle tissue. In 1989 he accepted a faculty position in the Department of Biochemistry at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, continuing his research program and taking on a teaching role. Dr. Bender accepted a position at the Coriell Institute in 1996 in order to contribute to ongoing efforts within the worldwide scientific community to study human genetics and heritable disorders.

Leonard, JC, Toji, LH, Bender PK, Beiswanger, CM, Beck, JC, Johnson, RT
Regional Mapping Panels for Human Chromosomes 1, 2, and 7. Somatic Cell and Molecilar Genetics 25(4):247-251, 2001.

Siniscalco M, Robledo R, Bender PK, Carcassi C, Contu L, Beck JC
Population genomics in Sardinia: a novel approach to hunt for genomic combinations underlying complex traits and diseases. Cytogenet Cell Genet. 86(2):148-52, 1999.
PMID: 10545707 abstract

Leonard JC, Toji LH, Bender PK, Beiswanger CM, Beck JC, Johnson RT
Panel description. Regional mapping panels for chromosomes 6, 9, and 16. Genomics 58(3):323-6, 1999.
PMID: 10373332 abstract  full text

Leonard JC, Toji LH, Bender PK, Beiswanger CM, Beck JC
Regional mapping panels for chromosomes 8, 13, 21, and 22. Genomics 51(1):17-20, 1998.
PMID: 9693028 abstract full text

Pan Y, Bender PK, Akers RM, Webb KE Jr
One or more serum factors promote peptide utilization in cultured animal cells. J Nutr. 128(4):744-50, 1998.
PMID: 9521638 abstract  full text

Leonard JC, Drwinga HL, Kim CH, Toji LH, Bender PK, Mulivor RA, Beck JC
Regional mapping panels for chromosomes 3, 4, 5, 11, 15, 17, 18, and X. Genomics 46(3):530-4, 1997.
PMID: 9441767 abstract  full text

Matthews JC, Wong EA, Bender PK, Bloomquist JR, Webb KE Jr
Demonstration and characterization of dipeptide transport system activity in sheep omasal epithelium by expression of mRNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes. J Anim Sci. 74(7):1720-7, 1996.
PMID: 8818821 abstract

Matthews JC, Wong EA, Bender PK, Webb KE Jr
Demonstration and characterization of a transport system capable of lysine and leucine absorption that is encoded for in porcine jejunal epithelium by expression of mRNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes. J Anim Sci. 74(1):127-37, 1996.
PMID: 8778090 abstract

Pan, Y., Bender, P.K., Akers, R.M., and Webb, K.E., Jr.
Methionine-containing peptides can be used as methionine sources for protein accretion in cultured C2C12 and MAC-T cells. J. Nutr. 126(1):: 232-241, 1996.
PMID: 8558306 abstract

Lanciotti RA, Bender PK
The gamma subunit of phosphorylase kinase contains a pseudosubstrate sequence. Eur J Biochem. 230(1):139-45, 1995.
PMID: 7601093 abstract

Skinner TL, Kerns RT, Bender PK
Three different calmodulin-encoding cDNAs isolated by a modified 5'-RACE using degenerate oligodeoxyribonucleotides. Gene. 151(1-2):247-51, 1994.
PMID: 7828884 abstract

Lanciotti RA, Bender PK
Baculovirus-directed expression of the gamma-subunit of phosphorylase kinase: purification and calmodulin dependence. Biochem J. 299 ( Pt 1):183-9, 1994.
PMID: 8166638 abstract

Bender PK, Wang Z, Carlson GM
Two exons encode the calmodulin-binding domain in the mouse phosphorylase kinase catalytic subunit gene. Genet Anal Tech Appl. 10(3-4): 99-101, 1993.
PMID: 8110484 abstract