PE BIOSYSTEMS DONATES SEQUENCE DETECTION SYSTEM TO ENHANCE PEDIATRIC LEUKEMIA RESEARCH

Goal is to prevent fatal relapses of the most common childhood cancer

FOSTER CITY, CA and SAN FRANCISCO, CA, October 5, 2000--PE Biosystems (NYSE:PEB), a PE Corporation business now conducting business under the Applied Biosystems name, announced today that it has donated a Sequence Detection System to the Pediatric Oncology Research Laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

UCSF researchers studying pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) will use the system to work on increasing the chances of survival for children with ALL. The system could help quantify molecular markers that might prove useful for distinguishing children who are in remission but have persistent leukemia cells in their bone marrow. These children might benefit from either modifying the chemotherapy regimen or from bone marrow transplantation to prevent relapse.

"Current national research shows that although more than 95% of children with ALL achieve remission, approximately 20% of them will relapse," said Michael W. Hunkapiller, Ph.D., president of Applied Biosystems. "Unfortunately, the prognosis is poor for children with ALL who experience a bone marrow relapse. Because ALL is the most common childhood cancer, relapses account for a substantial proportion of pediatric cancer deaths."

Applied Biosystems ABI PRISM® 7700 Sequence Detection System, including TaqMan® probe technology, uses real-time PCR that will enable UCSF pediatric oncologists Mignon L. Loh, M.D. and Kevin M. Shannon, M.D. to conduct research to identify predictive markers of relapse.

"There is a personal interest in ALL here at Applied Biosystems following the death of the son of one of our employees," said Dr. Hunkapiller.

John McDermott was the son of Susan M. McDermott, high-throughput screening sales specialist at Applied Biosystems. John was diagnosed with ALL in 1998 at the age of 10. He underwent treatment at UCSF and remained in remission until he relapsed in March 2000. A search for a bone marrow donor was underway when he passed away in April.

"It's terrible to lose someone at such a young age," Dr. Hunkapiller said. "This contribution to UCSF's Pediatric Oncology Research Laboratory is meant to drive research aimed at improving the chances for patients like John."

Currently, the diagnosis of relapsed ALL is made when the patient exhibits clinical symptoms. Dr. Loh and Dr. Shannon are pursuing the ability to detect a patient's molecular relapse prior to a clinical relapse. In addition, they are researching the potential for altered treatment to reduce the incidence of side effects such as cardiac dysfunction, endocrine abnormalities, neuropsychologic problems and chemotherapy-induced second cancers.

Applied Biosystems Sequence Detection Systems provide the ability to amplify, or copy, RNA and DNA from small samples, since samples from young children are limited in volume. These PCR-based systems enable fast, cost-effective amplification for continued research on the monitoring and treatment of ALL.

The list price in the U.S. for the Applied Biosystems ABI PRISM® 7700 Sequence Detection System is $95,000.

Applied Biosystems sponsors a number of community programs that fund major health-care research initiatives. These community programs also offer employees a chance to volunteer for a local organization they value.

In addition, the company is currently partnered with schools in the mid-Peninsula area to enhance teacher and student exposure to science. This commitment to education meets a need identified by the community and increases the potential for students to choose a field of study from which Applied Biosystems draws its employees.

PE Corporation comprises two operating groups. The PE Biosystems Group, now conducting business under the Applied Biosystems name, develops and markets instrument-based systems, reagents, software and contract services to the life science industry and research community. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA and reported sales of $1.4 billion during fiscal 2000. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE: CRA), headquartered in Rockville, Md., intends to become the definitive source of and related medical information. Information about the Company, including reports and other information filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available on the worldwide web at www.pecorporation.com or by phoning 800.762.6923.

The PCR process and 5' nuclease process are covered by patents owned by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

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