Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex Launches New Line of Chromatography Systems for Biomarker, Drug Discovery, and Proteomics Studies.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. & TORONTO -- Nano, Micro and MALDI HPLC Systems Provide Complete Single Vendor Solution for Mass Spectrometry-Based Applications

Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, together with its joint venture partner MDS Sciex, a division of MDS Inc. (NYSE:MDZ)(TSX:MDS), today announced the launch of Tempo(TM) Liquid Chromatography (LC) systems, providing integrated front-end solutions for researchers performing LC/MS and LC MALDI-based experiments.

High Pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), a separation step that purifies and resolves compounds in complex matrices, is a staple in life sciences research laboratories, and is often performed prior to mass spectrometry analysis. With the introduction of Tempo(TM) LC systems, Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX will offer complete application-based solutions for proteomics, biomarker, and drug discovery studies. These end-to-end systems will provide single-vendor LC/MS solutions that include sales, installation, service, and support.

The new product line includes:

--Tempo(TM) nano LC system for 1-dimensional nano HPLC,

--Tempo(TM) nano MDLC for multi-dimensional HPLC,

--Tempo(TM) ht LC system for high throughput micro-flow applications, and

--Tempo(TM) LC MALDI Spotting System for MALDI MS.

"Our mass spectrometry customers want reliable, easy-to-use, high performance liquid chromatography systems that integrate seamlessly with their instruments," said Laura Lauman, Division President, Proteomics and Small Molecule Division of Applied Biosystems. "With Tempo(TM) LC systems, powered by Eksigent Technologies, Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX is expected to offer and support complete LC/MS systems that make it easy for experts and novices to achieve sensitive, high resolution, and high speed separations for LC/MS applications with significantly reduced solvent consumption."

"These LC systems are a perfect complement to our industry-leading mass spectrometry platforms, and allow us to offer our customers a total system solution," added Andy Boorn, President of MDS Sciex.

The Tempo(TM) systems have ultra-low dead volumes, fewer moving parts than conventional LC systems, and a unique direct pumping mechanism with flow rate feedback for each mobile phase. The result of this technology is optimum chromatographic performance with fast cycle times, better peak shapes, more reproducible gradients and retention times, as well as reduced solvent consumption.

The Tempo(TM) LC MALDI Spotting system combines all the advantages of the Tempo(TM) LC system technology with an innovative electrostatic spotting stage for significantly higher speed, resolution, performance, and sample capacity in LC/MS. The system fully enables high performance LC-MALDI workflows in proteomics and metabolism studies with the 4700 and 4800 MALDI TOF/TOF(TM) Analyzer and the QSTAR(R) analyzer with oMALDI(TM) Source. It can also be used with other instruments possessing adapters for Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX Opti-TOF(TM) plates.

The Tempo(TM) LC MALDI system is expected to be available for shipment in February 2006.

About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems

Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries and develop new pharmaceuticals. Applied Biosystems' products also serve the needs of some markets outside of life science research, which we refer to as "applied markets," such as the fields of: human identity testing (forensic and paternity testing); biosecurity, which refers to products needed in response to the threat of biological terrorism and other malicious, accidental, and natural biological dangers; and quality and safety testing, for example in food and the environment. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of nearly $1.8 billion during fiscal 2005. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA) is engaged principally in the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Celera Genomics is leveraging its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics. It is also seeking to advance therapeutic antibody and selected small molecule drug programs in collaboration with global technology and market leaders. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of 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/.

About MDS Sciex and MDS Inc.

MDS Sciex is the analytical instrumentation and technology solutions division of MDS Inc. MDS Inc. (TSX:MDS)(NYSE:MDZ) has more than 8,800 highly skilled people in 27 countries. We provide a diverse range of superior products and services to increase our customers' speed, precision and productivity in the drug development and disease diagnosis processes. We are a global, values-driven life sciences company, recognized for our reliability and collaborative relationships as we help create better outcomes in the treatment of disease. Find out more at www.mdsinc.com or by calling 800-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day.

Applied Biosystems Forward Looking Statement

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "should" among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Applera Corporation's 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, Applera Corporation notes 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. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance, development, and results of Applied Biosystems businesses include but are not limited to (1) rapidly changing technology and dependence on new products; (2) sales dependent on customers' capital spending policies and government-sponsored research; (3) claims for patent infringement; and (4) other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Applera and AB are trademarks and Applied Biosystems is a registered trademark of Applera Corporation in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.

Tempo, Opti-TOF, oMALDI, and MALDI TOF/TOF are trademarks and QSTAR is a registered trademark of Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex, a joint venture between Applera Corporation and MDS Inc.

(C)Applera Corporation and MDS Inc. All rights reserved.