CARLSBAD, Calif.–Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE), today announced the launch of a new sequencing-based genomics tool to advance the analysis of whole transcriptomes. The SOLiD™ Whole Transcriptome Analysis Kit is the latest addition to a leading suite of reagents, optimized for use with the SOLiD System. This new kit enables the detailed characterization of all expressed RNA in biological samples, allowing scientists to better understand a variety of cell types such as stem cells and cancer.

The SOLiD Whole Transcriptome Analysis Kit provides researchers with an optimized, end-to-end solution that enables the hypothesis-neutral analysis of gene expression profiles in the entire transcriptome, which is the set of all messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules – or transcripts – produced in only one, or an entire population of cells. This solution combines best-in-class Ambion reagents from Life Technologies’ Invitrogen brand with the SOLiD System, Applied Biosystems’ leading platform for next-generation genomic analysis. These complete solutions, based on the SOLiD System, are driving further adoption of next-generation sequencing through expanded utility for a variety of applications.

This solution is uniquely capable of generating the highest number of sequence reads per run, enabling researchers to analyze multiple samples in a single experiment, while maintaining the highest-levels of sensitivity to comprehensively characterize the transcriptome. The detection of all known and novel RNA present in biological samples is critical to understanding biological response to stimuli or environmental changes. This ultra high-throughput, sequencing-based approach has numerous advancements over alternative methods such as traditional DNA microarrays, which are unable to detect RNA transcripts expressed at low levels, novel RNA transcripts, or splice variants.

This approach for transcriptome analysis is being utilized by a team of scientists at the Beijing Institute of Genomics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. They are using nine SOLiD Systems to explore the expression profiles of multiple tissues and cells in human, mouse, rice and microbes. The kit provides researchers greater insight into biological pathways and molecular mechanisms that regulate cell-fate decision, development and disease progression.

Dr. Songnian Hu, Assistant Director at Beijing Institute of Genomics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

“We recently utilized the whole transcriptome kit to sequence the entire transcriptome of mouse embryonic stem cells and discovered that the sequencing-based method detected 30% more genes than a traditional microarray approach. Our SOLiD System data provided insights into the molecular mechanism of embryonic stem cell pluripotency, which is critical to understanding the differentiation of specific cell types, including cancer cells.”

Kip Miller, President of Life Technologies’ Genetic Systems Division

“We believe next-generation sequencing technology will replace the traditional microarray technology for whole transcriptome research projects within the next two years. The Applied Biosystems SOLiD technology offers an optimized, integrated solution for the advancement of whole transcriptome analysis, resulting in the highest number of reads per run, providing researchers the required sensitivity to detect rare transcripts, as well as the flexibility to analyze multiple samples to advance important cancer and stem cell research.”

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SOLiD System

Whole Transcriptome Application Note

Applied Biosystems’ Leadership in Advanced Genomics Technologies

Applied Biosystems is a global leader in providing innovative instrument systems to accelerate academic and clinical research, drug discovery and development, pathogen detection and forensic DNA analysis. The technologies it markets include a robust line of DNA sequencing systems and chemistries to meet the increasing demands of the scientific community for higher throughput, more sophisticated DNA sequencing solutions. Applied Biosystems, together, with Invitrogen – a leading provider of platform independent, essential life science technologies for disease and drug research, bioproduction and diagnostics – is part of Life Technologies Corporation, which markets the life science industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of solutions for molecular and cell biology. Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen products are used in nearly every major laboratory in the world. For more information, please visit: www.appliedbiosystems.com and www.invitrogen.com.

About Life Technologies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: www.lifetechnologies.com.

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For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Copyright 2009. Life Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved. AB (Design), and Applied Biosystems are registered trademarks and SOLiD are trademarks of Life Technologies or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or certain other countries.