Applied Biosystems announces $250,000 grant program for SNP genotyping studies

FOSTER CITY, CA – Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, today announced a new grant program open to individuals, institutions and corporations conducting genotyping research using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The grant recipient will receive up to $250,000 in Applied Biosystems products for SNP genotyping.

The winning proposal for the Applied Biosystems SNP Genotyping Research Grant will be selected by a panel of scientific experts, including scientists from Applied Biosystems, as well as external judges to be announced at a later date. Interested parties can submit a one- to two-page proposal outlining the goals of their SNP genotyping project and specific research needs. Application forms are available at http://www.allsnps.com. Deadline for submission is April 20, 2003. The winning grant recipient will be announced in mid-May 2003.

"We hope this grant program will encourage innovative research in the exciting, growing field of SNP genotyping," said Michael W. Hunkapiller, Ph.D., President of Applied Biosystems. "As a leading provider of tools and services for life science research, and with the availability of our recent offerings for SNP genotyping, we look forward to stimulating further advancements in this field."

The Applied Biosystems Grant Program will provide the grant recipient with a range of products to choose from within the Sequence Detection System product line for SNP genotyping, including Assays-on-DemandTM products – ready-to-use, functionally validated assays for nearly 130,000 human SNPs; and instruments for SNP-based genotyping, including Sequence Detection Systems that enable detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the fluorogenic 5' nuclease assay with TaqMan® chemistry.

About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems
Applera Corporation comprises two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group develops and markets instrument-based systems, reagents, software, and contract services to the life science industry and research community. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries, develop new pharmaceuticals, and conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of $1.6 billion during fiscal 2002. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA), located in Rockville, MD, and South San Francisco, CA, is engaged principally in integrating advanced technologies to discover and develop new therapeutics. Celera intends to leverage its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop new therapeutics. Its Celera Discovery SystemTM online platform, marketed exc lusively through the Applied Biosystems Knowledge Business, is an integrated source of information based on the human genome and other biological and medical sources. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of novel diagnostic products. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800.762.6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com.

Copyright© 2003. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. Applied Biosystems is a registered trademark and Applera, Assays-on-Demand, Celera, Celera Diagnostics, Celera Discovery System, and Celera Genomics are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and certain other countries.

---

---