Celera Diagnostics Presents Data on Fragile X Assay; New Research Assay Developed to Detect Carriers of Mutations in the Gene for Fragile X, the Leading Cause of Inherited Mental Retardation.

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture between the Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI) and Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA) of Applera Corporation, today announced that it will present data on its fragile X research assay at the Association for Molecular Pathology's 11th Annual Meeting, from November 11-13, 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona. This study shows results for amplification of normal and pre-mutation triplet repeats in the FMR1 (fragile X mental retardation) gene and sizing them on the ABI PRISM(R) 3100 and 3130 Genetic Analyzers. Also included is amplification of a novel gender gene that can be used to determine whether females have two normal copies of the repeats.

Fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of inherited mental retardation. The causative mutation in 99% of cases is expansion in the X chromosome of the CGG (cytosine-guanine-guanine) triplet repeat in the FMR1 gene, which can be categorized into four classes based on the size of the repeat: normal (5-44 repeats), intermediate-grey zone (45-54 repeats), pre-mutation (55-200 repeats), and full mutation (greater than 200 repeats). Pre-mutation repeats may expand to full mutations in the next generation. Females that have either a pre-mutation or full mutation repeat length alleles are carriers. Males that inherit a full mutation repeat allele exhibit developmental disabilities.

The Celera Diagnostics fragile X research assay is a PCR assay that co-amplifies a novel gender-specific gene simultaneously with triplet repeats up to 645 units, and sizes repeats up to 230 units on ABI PRISM(R) 3100 and 3130 Genetic Analyzers. This research assay was developed as part of Celera Diagnostics' alliance with Abbott Laboratories, and is currently being evaluated externally.

"This research assay is a more efficient PCR method for detecting fragile X carriers compared to current procedures, and is a major advancement in the field," said Michael Zoccoli, Ph.D., Vice President of Development, Celera Diagnostics. "The data demonstrate the potential of this approach for population screening for fragile X similar to screening practices for Cystic Fibrosis."

About Fragile X

Affected people with fragile X syndrome have a mutation in the FMR1 gene in the DNA that makes up the X chromosome. That mutation causes the cell to methylate a regulatory region of the FMR1 gene. The methylation turns off the FMR1 gene. Since the gene is turned off, the person doesn't make FMRP (fragile X mental retardation protein). That lack of this specific protein triggers fragile X syndrome.

Little information exists for ethnic/racial groups; however, population-based estimates in admixed, African-derived populations suggest that the prevalence of the full mutation may be 1 in 2,500 males. No study has determined the prevalence of the full mutation among females in the general population. However, based on the prevalence of the full mutation in males, 1 in 8-9,000 females in the general population may be affected by the fragile X syndrome (Crawford et al., 2001).

About Celera Diagnostics and Applera Corporation

Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of diagnostic products. The Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI) 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. 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/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release, including the Outlook sections, are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "should," "planned," and "potential," 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 Celera Diagnostics' businesses include but are not limited to: (1) Celera Diagnostics' unproven ability to discover, develop, or commercialize proprietary diagnostic products; (2) the uncertainty that Celera Diagnostics' products will be accepted and adopted by the market, including the risk that these products will not be competitive with products offered by other companies, or that users will not be entitled to receive adequate reimbursement for these products from third party payors such as private insurance companies and government insurance plans; (3) reliance on existing and future collaborations with other companies, including, in the case of Celera Diagnostics, its strategic alliance with Abbott Laboratories, which may not be successful; (4) Celera Diagnostics' reliance on access to biological materials and related clinical and other information, which may be in limited supply or access to which may be limited; (5) intense competition in the industries in which Celera Diagnostics operate; (6) potential product liability or other claims against Celera Diagnostics as a result of the testing or use of their products; (7) potential liabilities related to the use of hazardous materials; (8) uncertainty of the availability to Celera Diagnostics of intellectual property protection, limitations on their ability to protect trade secrets, the risk to them of infringement claims, and the possibility that they may need to license intellectual property from third parties to avoid or settle such claims; (9) legal, ethical, and social issues which could affect demand for Celera Diagnostics' products; and (10) other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Applera does not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

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Reference

Crawford DC, Acuna JM, Sherman, SL. (2001) FMR1 and the fragile X syndrome: Human genome epidemiology review. Genetics in Medicine. 3(5): 359-371.