Applied Biosystems Adds New Members to Software Development Community to Advance Genomic Analysis Research

Applied Biosystems Inc. (NYSE:ABI) today announced the addition of new members to its Software Development Community by forming relationships with InteRNA Genomics B.V. and Biotique Systems, Inc. The commercial software solutions offered by these companies are intended to advance data analysis and management for researchers utilizing Applied Biosystems’ SOLiD™ System, the company’s ultra-high-throughput platform for DNA sequencing and genomic analysis research. The Applied Biosystems Software Development Community supports bioinformaticians and life scientists in the development and potential commercialization of informatics applications for next-generation genomic analysis platforms. The community has noted approximately 1,000 downloads of sample data sets and data analysis tools and resources by the hundreds of researchers, independent software vendors, bioinformatics service providers, and SOLiD System users who have visited the site. Applied Biosystems Software Development Community is expected to help drive innovation and speed the development of bioinformatics solutions that will enable researchers to realize the full potential of ultra-high- throughput genomic analysis. InteRNA Genomics B.V., co-founded by Aglaia Biomedical Ventures and pioneers in the application of high-throughput sequencing technologies for expression profiling and the discovery of small RNAs and microRNAs, is providing services for processing, analyzing and presenting RNA sequencing data. Applied Biosystems also formed an agreement with Biotique Systems, Inc., which provides a data management solution for integrating, analyzing and sharing data generated by next-generation sequencing platforms. Additional new members to the Software Development Community are Genomatix Software GmbH, and BioTeam. InteRNA Genomics Software Solution for microRNA Research Ultra-high-throughput genomic analysis platforms, such as the SOLiD System, is changing the approach to genome-related research, including small RNA discovery and detection and gene expression profiling. InteRNA developed a bioinformatics solution, miR-Intess™, that converts large sets of raw sequencing data into interpretable formats, enabling researchers to integrate this information with existing data resources. InteRNA’s miR-Intess is designed for the comprehensive analysis of high-throughput small RNA sequencing data with the focus on discovery and expression profiling of miRNAs and for the classification and annotation of all sequencing reads according to current knowledge in the small RNA field. Analysis includes alignment and annotation of SOLiD System reads to a reference genome as well as the predication of novel miRNA candidate genes. "During a recent project, InteRNA was able to map and annotate 120 million SOLiD System reads of small RNAs onto a reference genome using an open source alignment program, resulting in the identification of novel microRNAs and the validation as well as digital expression profiling of known microRNAs,” said Dr. Edwin Cuppen, InteRNA co-founder, a professor of genome biology at Utrecht University, and a staff scientist at the Hubrecht Institute. "As researchers begin to adapt microarray-based gene expression profiling to an ultra-high-throughput platform, they will be evaluating how to manage the significant increase in quantity and quality of data generated from these platforms.” Biotique Software Translates High-Throughput Genomic Analysis Data Biotique has commercially developed software, HT-BLIS (High-Throughput HT-BLIS), which enables academic and research organizations to process the massive amounts of data being generated by high-throughput genomic analysis systems. HT-BLIS provides a scalable informatics solution that is capable of receiving, storing, and manipulating sequencing data in real time as it is generated by genomic analysis platforms such as the SOLiD System. "HT-BLIS software offers unprecedented resolution and speed to gene expression, sequencing, and genotyping projects,” said Stephen Sanders, Biotique Systems’ chief executive officer. "Our relationship with Applied Biosystems is part of our commitment to providing researchers with the informatics tools necessary to manage the billions of bases per day generated by high-throughput genomic analysis platforms.” The Software Development Community represents Applied Biosystems’ commitment to fostering innovation in life science technologies for industry leading genetic analyzers, and real-time PCR sequence detection systems. "We have worked closely with companies that have developed sophisticated software applications for scientists engaged with high-throughput genomic analysis platforms,” said Roger Canales, senior manager of Applied Biosystems’ SOLiD Software Development Community. "As a result, Applied Biosystems has been able to clearly define the requirements to help scientists be successful in conducting their research projects.” Applied Biosystems is a global leader in the development and commercialization of instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services for the life-science market and is a recognized market leader in the commercialization of DNA sequencing platforms. The SOLiD System, based on sequencing by oligonucleotide ligation and detection, is Applied Biosystems’ platform for ultra high-throughput genomic analysis. Unlike polymerase sequencing approaches, the SOLiD System utilizes a proprietary technology called stepwise ligation, which generates high quality data for applications including, whole genome sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), microbial and eukaryotic resequencing, digital karyotyping, medical sequencing, genotyping, gene expression, and small RNA discovery, among others. For more information about the SOLiD System or the Software Development Community please visit: http://info.appliedbiosystems.com/solidsoftwarecommunity or http://solidsoftwaretools.com About Applied Biosystems Inc. Applied Biosystems Inc. (formerly known as Applera Corporation) is a global leader in the development and marketing of instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services for academic research, the life science industry and commercial markets. Driven by its employees' belief in the power of science to improve the human condition, the company commercializes innovative technology solutions for DNA, RNA, protein and small molecule analysis. Customers across the disciplines of academic and clinical research, pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, forensic DNA analysis, and agricultural biotechnology use the company’s tools and services to accelerate scientific discovery, improve processes related to drug discovery and development, detect potentially pathogenic microorganisms, and identify individuals based on DNA sources. Applied Biosystems has a comprehensive service and field applications support team for a global installed base of high-performance genetic and protein analysis solutions. On June 12, 2008, Applera Corporation and Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) announced that their Boards of Directors had approved a definitive merger agreement under which Invitrogen will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Applied Biosystems stock. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions and is targeted to close in the fall of 2008. Further information regarding the merger will be provided in a joint proxy statement/prospectus to be mailed to stockholders of the company and Invitrogen. Investors and security holders are urged to read this document when it becomes available because it will contain important information. Applied Biosystems Inc. is headquartered in Norwalk, CT, and reported sales of approximately $2.1 billion during fiscal 2007. Information about Applied Biosystems, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com. All information in this news release is as of the date of the release, and Applied Biosystems does not undertake any duty to update this information unless required by law. About InteRNA Genomics B.V. InteRNA Genomics B.V., a subsidiary of InteRNA Technologies B.V. and based in Bilthoven, the Netherlands, offers services and software for processing, analyzing and presenting ultra-high-throughput sequencing data generated by various platforms. InteRNA’s proprietary informatics solutions, Intess™, convert large sets of raw sequencing data into interpretable formats and integrate this information with existing proprietary and public data resources. InteRNA Genomics is co-founded by Dr. Eugene Berezikov and Dr. Edwin Cuppen, leading scientists in U-HTP data generation and analysis. Berezikov and Cuppen pioneered the application of high-throughput sequencing technologies for expression profiling and discovery of small RNAs and miRNAs in particular, as described in several high-profile papers. For more information on InteRNA, please visit, www.interna-genomics.com, or mail info@interna-genomics.com. About Biotique Systems, Inc. Biotique Systems is a privately held company that helps pharmaceutical, agriculture and biotechnology companies increase productivity by providing customizable, enterprise-wide solutions for integrating, analyzing and sharing knowledge assets. By bringing together people, projects, disparate data sources and workflow applications Biotique Systems is helping leading companies such as Bayer-Schering Pharma, Monsanto and Affymetrix integrate information from discovery programs across disparate research disciplines and geographic locations to facilitate innovation and discovery. Biotique Systems is the premier provider of knowledge management and integration solutions that focus on leveraging biological data and Genomics to increase the productivity of drug, seed, and crop development. For more information about Biotique Systems, call 775-787-9900, e-mail inquire@biotiquesystems.com, or visit www.biotiquesystems.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 phrases such as "should, "planned," and "expect," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, we note that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to: (1) rapidly changing technology and dependence on the development and customer acceptance of new products; (2) sales dependent on customers' capital spending policies and government-sponsored research; and (3) other factors that might be described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and we do not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law. ©Copyright 2008. Applied Biosystems Inc. All rights reserved. Applera, Applied Biosystems, and AB (Design) are registered trademarks, and SOLiD is a trademark of Applied Biosystems Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.