Life Technologies Release: Genomic Research Service Provider DNA Link Purchases 10 Ion Proton Sequencers

CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced that DNA Link Inc., a Korean genomic research service provider, has placed an order to purchase ten Ion Proton Sequencers, which are shipping immediately. To watch a short interview with DNA Link's CEO, Dr. Jong Eun Lee, click here.

Life Technologies introduced the Ion Proton Sequencer in September and its adoption by customers who are familiar with next-generation sequencing in both the U.S. and emerging markets continues to grow significantly.

DNA Link's CEO, Dr. Jong Eun Lee, said he expects the $500 million that the Korean government recently set aside to fund genomics research to drive significantly more demand for the one-day sequencing turnaround that the Ion Proton Sequencer delivers.

Dr. Lee, whose company processes tens of thousands of samples each year, said the decision to select the Ion Proton System centered around three key factors: speed, throughput and cost.

"It takes two weeks to get results with our current system, and it takes a total of two to three months by the time the data are sequenced and analyzed," said Dr. Lee. "People just don't want to wait that long. Getting an exome from sample to analysis in a day will give us a great competitive advantage in the market."

Dr. Lee also said the Ion Proton Sequencer's simplified data analysis is a significant advantage.

"The bioinformatics load from these big machines is just too much for us to deal with," said Dr. Lee. "The more streamlined bioinformatics pipeline that Ion Torrent offers will help us save time and turn around projects faster to our customers."

Ion Torrent technology has emerged as the most outstanding value in sequencing because of the relentless improvement in semiconductor sequencing performance. These improvements now enable any sequencing application, from targeted resequencing and microbial sequencing to exome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing, and many others.

Life Technologies Korea's General Manager, Mrs. Soojin Seok, said she looked forward to collaborating with Dr. Lee to expand his business as Korea moves faster into genomics and sequencing.

"Since Dr. Lee purchased the Ion PGM Sequencer a year ago, we have been working closely with him to demonstrate both the quality of Ion Torrent semiconductor sequencing technology, as well as the quality of support he will receive from our Life Technologies staff in Korea," said Seok.

The Ion Torrent products discussed in this press release are for Research Use Only; not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About Life Technologies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology company with customers in more than 160 countries using its innovative solutions to solve some of today's most difficult scientific challenges. Quality and innovation are accessible to every lab with its reliable and easy-to-use solutions spanning the biological spectrum, with more than 50,000 products for agricultural biotechnology, translational research, molecular medicine and diagnostics, stem cell-based therapies, forensics, food safety and animal health. Its systems, reagents and consumables represent some of the most cited brands in scientific research including: Ion Torrent, Applied Biosystems®, Invitrogen, Gibco®, Ambion®, Molecular Probes®, Novex®, and TaqMan®. Life Technologies employs approximately 10,400 people and upholds its ongoing commitment to innovation with more than 4,000 patents and exclusive licenses. LIFE had sales of $3.7 billion in 2011. Visit us at our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com.

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Media Contacts:

Wes Conard
Life Technologies Corporation
wes.conard@lifetech.com
415-385-4455

Jon Kim
Life Technologies Korea
jon.kim@lifetech.com
82-10-8717-7887

SOURCE Life Technologies