Applied Biosystems
A life-science brand providing integrated systems for PCR, DNA sequencing, genetic analysis, and molecular biology.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Applied Biosystems is a United States-origin life-science brand specializing in integrated systems for genetic analysis. Its portfolio combines laboratory instruments with the reagents, consumables, software, and workflow support required to perform molecular biology and genetic testing. Major application areas include polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, Sanger sequencing, capillary electrophoresis, fragment analysis, genotyping, gene-expression analysis, nucleic-acid quantification, pathogen detection, clinical research, and forensic DNA analysis. The company traces its origins to GeneCo, or Genetic Systems Company, founded in 1981 in Foster City, California, by Hewlett-Packard scientists and engineers Sam Eletr and André Marion. The business was built around the commercialization of automated biochemical and genetic-analysis technology. Its early instruments included protein sequencers, DNA synthesizers, and peptide synthesizers. These products helped laboratories determine protein sequences, construct oligonucleotides, and develop increasingly automated approaches to molecular research. Applied Biosystems became especially influential during the development of automated DNA sequencing. Fluorescent-labeling technology associated with researchers including Leroy Hood and Lloyd Smith was commercialized through the company, and Applied Biosystems instruments became central to many Human Genome Project sequencing centers. The brand subsequently expanded into PCR instrumentation and reagents, DNA fragment analysis, robotics, bioinformatics, and other laboratory technologies. Its instruments and consumables were adopted by academic laboratories, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations, diagnostic laboratories, agricultural genetics programs, and forensic practitioners. The corporate history of Applied Biosystems includes several reorganizations. In 1993, the company was acquired by Perkin-Elmer and operated as the Applied Biosystems Division. Perkin-Elmer later reorganized its life-science activities into the PE Applied Biosystems and PE Biosystems structures, incorporating additional businesses and technologies. The sequencing business also helped stimulate the creation of Celera Genomics in 1998, a private-sector effort led by J. Craig Venter that used large-scale automated sequencing to challenge the timetable of the public Human Genome Project. In 2008, Applied Biosystems merged with Invitrogen to form Life Technologies. Thermo Fisher Scientific acquired Life Technologies in 2014, after which Applied Biosystems continued as a brand within Thermo Fisher Scientific’s life-science portfolio. The brand is therefore not an independent listed company today. Its products are marketed through Thermo Fisher Scientific’s global commercial, technical-support, and service infrastructure, frequently alongside products from other Thermo Fisher brands. Applied Biosystems remains associated with QuantStudio real-time PCR systems, TaqMan assays, SeqStudio genetic analyzers, 3500 genetic analyzers, and related molecular-analysis workflows.
History
Applied Biosystems began in 1981 as GeneCo, a biotechnology company founded in Foster City, California, by Sam Eletr and André Marion, both associated with Hewlett-Packard. The company commercialized automated instruments and biochemical technologies for laboratories. Its first commercial instrument, the Model 470A Protein Sequencer, was introduced in 1982. It was followed by DNA synthesizers and peptide synthesizers that enabled laboratories to produce oligonucleotides and analyze biological molecules with greater automation. During the 1980s, the company expanded rapidly and developed an international commercial presence. Its products covered protein sequencing, DNA synthesis, peptide synthesis, chromatography, nucleic-acid extraction, and laboratory automation. In 1983 it became publicly traded on NASDAQ. Applied Biosystems also acquired Brownlee Labs in 1985, adding high-performance liquid-chromatography columns, pumps, and related analytical technologies. A later dispute between Applied Biosystems and Brownlee led to litigation that was settled in 1989. A decisive stage in the company’s development was its work on automated DNA sequencing. Fluorescent DNA-sequencing technology developed by researchers including Leroy Hood and Lloyd Smith was licensed or commercialized through Applied Biosystems. The company’s Model 370A DNA Sequencing System and subsequent instruments helped move sequencing from labor-intensive manual procedures toward automated, computer-assisted workflows. Applied Biosystems became a major supplier to laboratories involved in the Human Genome Project and to emerging genomics companies. In 1993, Perkin-Elmer acquired Applied Biosystems, which then operated as a Perkin-Elmer life-science division. The business was reorganized several times during the 1990s. It became part of PE Applied Biosystems and later PE Biosystems, alongside businesses such as PerSeptive Biosystems, Tropix, and informatics operations. These combinations broadened the group’s capabilities in instrumentation, reagents, purification, detection, and genetic-data management. The sequencing business also played a role in the formation of Celera Genomics in 1998. Michael Hunkapiller and Perkin-Elmer chief executive Tony White supported a private-sector sequencing effort led by J. Craig Venter. The project used large numbers of automated sequencers, including the ABI PRISM 3700 DNA Analyzer developed with Hitachi. Celera’s ambitions increased competitive pressure on the public Human Genome Project and contributed to faster progress in genome sequencing. Applied Biosystems merged with Invitrogen in 2008, creating Life Technologies. The combined company brought together Applied Biosystems’ genetic-analysis instruments and workflows with Invitrogen’s reagents, molecular-biology products, and research technologies. In 2014, Thermo Fisher Scientific acquired Life Technologies. Applied Biosystems subsequently continued as one of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s life-science brands. Its modern portfolio remains centered on PCR, real-time PCR, Sanger sequencing, capillary electrophoresis, genetic analysis, assays, reagents, software, and laboratory support.
- 2014
Life Technologies acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific
[2]Thermo Fisher Scientific completed the acquisition of Life Technologies, bringing the Applied Biosystems brand into its portfolio.
- 2008
Merger with Invitrogen creates Life Technologies
[1]Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen completed a merger and formed Life Technologies.
- 2000
Applied Biosystems name returns within Applera
[1]The Applied Biosystems name was restored in the Applera Corporation-Applied Biosystems Group structure.
- 1998
PE Biosystems and Celera Genomics developments
[1]The life-science operations were organized as PE Biosystems, while Celera Genomics was established to pursue accelerated human genome sequencing.
- 1998
ABI PRISM 3700 developed with Hitachi
[1]A high-throughput automated DNA analyzer developed with Hitachi became an important platform for large-scale sequencing.
- 1993
Acquisition by Perkin-Elmer
[1]Applied Biosystems was acquired by Perkin-Elmer and became a division within its life-science business.
- 1986
Fluorescent DNA sequencing system introduced
[1]The Model 370A DNA Sequencing System helped advance automated fluorescent DNA sequencing.
- 1985
Brownlee Labs acquisition
[1]The company acquired Brownlee Labs, expanding into chromatography columns, pumps, and analytical instrumentation.
- 1983
NASDAQ listing and DNA synthesis expansion
[1]Applied Biosystems went public on NASDAQ and introduced a DNA synthesizer for producing oligonucleotides.
- 1982
First commercial protein sequencer
[1]The Model 470A Protein Sequencer became the company’s first commercial instrument.
Products and positioning
An integrated genetic-analysis and molecular-biology technology brand serving research, clinical research, molecular diagnostics, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and forensic applications.
Real-time PCR
QuantStudio
QuantStudio is a family of real-time PCR systems used to amplify and quantify nucleic acids. Depending on the configuration, the systems support gene-expression studies, genotyping, pathogen detection, mutation analysis, and other quantitative PCR workflows. The range is designed for laboratories with different throughput, automation, and application requirements.
PCR assays and reagents
TaqMan Assays
TaqMan is a probe-based assay and reagent line used for gene-expression analysis, genotyping, allelic discrimination, and nucleic-acid detection. The assays are commonly integrated with Applied Biosystems real-time PCR instruments and analysis software, giving laboratories a standardized workflow from amplification through result interpretation.
Capillary electrophoresis genetic analysis
SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer
The SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer is a compact capillary electrophoresis platform for Sanger sequencing and fragment analysis. It can support applications such as sequence confirmation, genotyping, mutation analysis, and other targeted genetic workflows in research and applied laboratory settings.
Capillary electrophoresis genetic analysis
3500 Genetic Analyzer
The 3500 Genetic Analyzer is a capillary electrophoresis system for DNA sequencing and fragment analysis. Its applications include research genotyping, clinical research, identity and forensic analysis, and other workflows that require electrophoretic separation and fluorescent detection of DNA fragments.
High-throughput DNA sequencing · 1998
ABI PRISM 3700 DNA Analyzer
The ABI PRISM 3700 DNA Analyzer was a highly automated sequencing platform developed with Hitachi. It enabled large-scale capillary electrophoresis sequencing with reduced manual intervention and was used by major genome-sequencing programs, including Celera Genomics and public Human Genome Project centers.
Protein sequencing · 1982
Model 470A Protein Sequencer
The Model 470A was Applied Biosystems’ first commercial instrument. It automated the determination of amino-acid sequences from purified proteins, helping laboratories connect protein structure with biological function.
DNA synthesis · 1983
Model 380A DNA Synthesizer
The Model 380A DNA Synthesizer automated the production of short DNA strands, or oligonucleotides. Such molecules were used in PCR, DNA sequencing, gene identification, and molecular cloning workflows.
Marketing campaigns
- 1998Celera human-genome sequencing initiative
United States · Global genomics research
Applied Biosystems and Perkin-Elmer supported the creation of Celera Genomics, which used a large-scale fleet of automated sequencing instruments to pursue rapid sequencing of the human genome. The initiative competed with and accelerated the timetable of the publicly funded Human Genome Project.
Outcome. Celera became a prominent private-sector participant in the race to sequence the human genome.
Brand decisions
2014
Join Thermo Fisher Scientific through Life Technologies acquisitionM&ABackground
Life Technologies owned the Applied Biosystems brand and a broad portfolio of life-science technologies.
Action taken
Thermo Fisher Scientific completed its acquisition of Life Technologies.
Aftermath
Applied Biosystems became part of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s global life-science portfolio and commercial infrastructure.
2008
Merge with InvitrogenM&ABackground
The life-science industry was consolidating, and Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen had complementary strengths in instruments, reagents, and molecular-biology workflows.
Action taken
The companies completed a merger and formed Life Technologies.
Aftermath
Applied Biosystems continued as a major product brand within the combined company.
1998
Support a private human-genome sequencing ventureStrategyBackground
The company’s automated sequencing technology had become central to genome research, while the public Human Genome Project was still working toward its completion target.
Action taken
Perkin-Elmer and Applied Biosystems executives helped establish Celera Genomics under J. Craig Venter and equipped it with high-throughput sequencing technology.
Aftermath
The resulting competition contributed to faster sequencing progress and heightened attention to industrial-scale genomics.
1993
Accept acquisition by Perkin-ElmerM&ABackground
Applied Biosystems had developed into a major supplier of instruments and reagents for molecular biology and genetic analysis.
Action taken
Perkin-Elmer acquired the company and integrated it as a life-science division.
Aftermath
The business underwent further reorganizations as PE Applied Biosystems and PE Biosystems before later becoming part of Applera and then Life Technologies.
Recent events
Thermo Fisher updates TaqMan mutation panel to detect Delta and Lambda[3]
Thermo Fisher Scientific announced an update to its Applied Biosystems TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel to detect the Delta and Lambda strains.
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