Invitrogen Sets Date for Special Meeting of Shareholders to Vote on Proposed Merger with Applied Biosystems

Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) today announced it has set the date for a special meeting of its shareholders, to consider the proposed acquisition of Applied Biosystems Inc. The special meeting of shareholders will be held on October 16, 2008, at 9 a.m., PT at Invitrogen’s headquarters, 5781 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, Calif. 92008. Invitrogen shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 5, 2008 will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. The Company expects to commence mailing the proxy statement and all relevant materials to Invitrogen shareholders the week of September 8, 2008. Approval of both companies’ shareholders is a condition to the closing of the transaction. The transaction is also subject to the approval of the European Commission and other customary closing conditions.

As previously announced on June 12, 2008, the Boards of Directors of Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems Inc. (formerly known as Applera Corporation) approved a definitive merger agreement under which Invitrogen will acquire all of the outstanding stock of Applied Biosystems Inc. in a cash and stock transaction valued at $6.7 billion.

Stockholders who have questions about the merger or need assistance in submitting their proxy or voting their shares should contact the Company's proxy solicitor, The Altman Group, toll-free at (866) 530-8621.

About Invitrogen

Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen’s own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics, stem cells, cell therapy and cell biology – placing Invitrogen’s products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company employs approximately 4,700 scientists and other professionals and had revenues of approximately $1.3 billion in 2007. For more information, visit www.Invitrogen.com.