Applied Biosystems Adds More Than a Million New TaqMan(R) SNP Genotyping Assays to Its Collection

Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business,today announced it has added more than a million new assays to itscollection of pre-designed, ready-to-use TaqMan(R) SNP GenotypingAssays. The new assays provide access to the recently completedInternational HapMap data set and include more than 11,000 new assaysfor putative functional single nucleotide polymorphisms that occur incoding regions of genes, also referred to as coding SNPs.

Applied Biosystems said its collection of more than 3.4 millionassays is the largest set of ready-to-use genotyping assays availableto investigate genetic variation of medical and biological importancein the human genome, and for conducting population based studies andbasic research. The collection also represents the most completepre-designed, genome-wide assay set based on the International HapMapProject data set. The assays are designed for use on the AppliedBiosystems real-time PCR sequence detection systems.

Inherited genetic variations influence susceptibility to disease,including complex diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes,and can also play a role in adverse drug reactions. By studyingpatterns of genetic variation using genotyping experiments,researchers can find clues on how to better prevent, diagnosis andtreat disease. These studies can also reveal valuable informationabout human evolution and basic mechanisms of genetic regulation.

Applied Biosystems Now Offers Pre-designed Assays for the RecentlyCompleted HapMap Data Set

With the recent completion of the HapMap project, AppliedBiosystems has developed more than one million new assays for thelatest HapMap data set to bring its total number of assays for thisdata to 2.6 million. The International HapMap Project is a large-scaleresearch project that has developed a public resource to helpresearchers find genes associated with human disease and response topharmaceuticals.

"The completion of the HapMap Project has contributed a wealth ofdata for disease researchers," said Mark Stevenson, president of themolecular and cell biology division of Applied Biosystems. "Our goalis to make it as easy as possible for scientists to mine these andother available SNP data, select the optimal SNPs for their studiesand get straight to the work of uncovering variations of medicalsignificance."

Applied Biosystems Introduces New Assays for Disease andPharmaceutically-relevant Coding SNPs

Applied Biosystems also added more than 11,000 new assays forcoding SNPs, which are designed to identify genetic variations thatcause changes at the protein level. These variations are more likelythan other variations in the non-coding regions to causepredisposition to disease or influence positive or negative responseto drug therapy.

For example, the coding SNP assays include a set of variants ingenes that are common drug targets and for genes previously implicatedin genetic diseases. With this release, the collection now includesmore than 60,000 total assays for coding SNPs, which makes this themost comprehensive set of assays for such potentially functional SNPs.

Scientists Can Access Data and Assays with Free Visualization andStudy Design Tool

Applied Biosystems also announced that it has updated its freeSNPbrowser(TM) software tool to include the entire HapMap data set andthe newly available genotyping assays. The SNPbrowser software allowsscientists to quickly and easily visualize SNPs of interest in theirgenomic context, along with linkage disequilibrium maps and putativehaplotype blocks derived from the analysis of more than six millionSNPs and 650 million genotypes for four ethnic populations:African-American, Caucasian, Chinese and Japanese.

The software provides an intuitive, visual interface to guideselection of optimal sets of SNPs for association and fine mappingstudies, as well as a direct link to order Applied Biosystems TaqManand SNPlex(TM) System assays. Available as a free download, the latestversion, SNPbrowser software v3.5, also allows users to view andexport the complete set of HapMap SNPs in all genomic regions, whetheror not assays are available for a specific SNP.

For more information, or to download the free SNPbrowser softwarev3.5, visit http://www.allsnps.com/snpbrowser.

About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems

Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. The AppliedBiosystems Group serves the life science industry and researchcommunity by developing and marketing instrument-based systems,consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools toanalyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins tomake scientific discoveries and develop new pharmaceuticals. AppliedBiosystems' products also serve the needs of some markets outside oflife science research, which we refer to as "applied markets," such asthe fields of: human identity testing (forensic and paternitytesting); biosecurity, which refers to products needed in response tothe threat of biological terrorism and other malicious, accidental,and natural biological dangers; and quality and safety testing, forexample in food and the environment. Applied Biosystems isheadquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of nearly USD 1.8billion during fiscal 2005. The Celera Genomics Group uses proprietarygenomics and proteomics discovery platforms to develop moleculardiagnostic products and to identify and validate novel drug targets.Celera maintains a strategic alliance in molecular diagnostics withAbbott Laboratories. In addition, Celera is developing new moleculardiagnostic and pharmacogenomic assays outside of its alliance withAbbott. Therapeutic antibodies against Celera-discovered drug targetsare being advanced through strategic partnerships. Information aboutApplera Corporation, including reports and other information filed bythe company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is availableat http://www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800.762.6923. Informationabout Applied Biosystems is available athttp://www.appliedbiosystems.com/.

Applied Biosystems Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking.These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrasessuch as "should, "planned," and "expect," among others. Theseforward-looking statements are based on Applera Corporation's currentexpectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In orderto comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Applera Corporation notesthat a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience todiffer materially from the anticipated results or other expectationsexpressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors includebut are not limited to (1) rapidly changing technology and dependenceon the development and customer acceptance of new products; (2) salesdependent on customers' capital spending policies andgovernment-sponsored research; and (3) other factors that might bedescribed from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission. All information in this pressrelease is as of the date of the release, and Applera does notundertake any duty to update this information, including anyforward-looking statements, unless required by law.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Practice of the patented 5' Nuclease Process requires a licensefrom Applied Biosystems. The purchase of the TaqMan(R) SNP GenotypingAssay includes an immunity from suit under patents specified in theproduct insert to use only the amount purchased for the purchaser'sown internal research when used with the separate purchase of anAuthorized 5' Nuclease Core Kit. No other patent rights are conveyedexpressly, by implication, or by estoppel. For further information onpurchasing licenses contact the Director of Licensing, AppliedBiosystems, 850 Lincoln Centre Drive, Foster City, California 94404,USA.

Applied Biosystems, AB (Design) and Celera are registeredtrademarks and Applera, Celera Genomics, SNPlex, and SNPbrowser aretrademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the US and/orcertain other countries. TaqMan is a registered trademark of RocheMolecular Systems, Inc. (C) Copyright 2006 Applera Corporation. Allrights reserved.