Applied Biosystems, a business unit of Applera Corporation, serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. These technologies enable biological discoveries in life science research, pharmaceutical research and development, and diagnostics. 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.

Its broad portfolio of technologies, which includes DNA sequencing, PCR, organic synthesis, chemiluminescence, mass spectrometry, and information management systems, enable genomics, proteomics, high throughput screening, and other molecular analyses.

Applied Biosystems (symbol ABI) is one of the two tracking stocks of Applera Corporation. Celera Genomics (symbol CRA) is the other, and both are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.