GeneArt® Algae Engineering Kits by Life Technologies™

CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --  Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced that the company has introduced its GeneArt® Algae Engineering Kits, the first commercially available genetic modification and expression systems for photosynthetic microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Synechococcus elongatus.  The strains are model organisms for the study of photosynthesis, circadian rhythms and nutrient-regulated gene activity, and are being investigated for bioproduction of biofuels, nutraceuticals and specialty chemicals.

The GeneArt® Chlamydomonas Engineering Kits and GeneArt® Synechoccus Engineering Kits combine optimized and fully characterized vectors, guaranteed pure and viable cells, specialty media for each strain and simple protocols to create the first standardized system for algae research and metabolic engineering. The algal strains contained in the kits are the first that can be shipped and stored frozen at -80 degrees Celsius, which simplifies their standardization and use.

Algal researchers have traditionally relied on cells, vectors, cloning tools and protocols that can be poorly defined, inferior or contaminated.  Cells from these sources often ship on agar slants which frequently become tainted or have low survival rates.  Additionally, vectors from uncontrolled sources often contain undocumented changes. The GeneArt vectors facilitate rapid, directional cloning of synthetic genes or PCR products and serve dual purpose for both engineering and expression.  Gibco® media is optimized for each strain and provided at 1X concentration, eliminating laborious and time-consuming media preparation.

"The lack of pure, uniform cultures and standardized growth media has made work with algae cumbersome and difficult relative to other model organisms," said Nathan Wood, vice president of synthetic biology for Life Technologies. "The GeneArt® kits have potential to boost algae research to the level of ease that typifies work with yeast and E. coli."

The kits will allow researchers to create transformed algal cells in fewer days, to standardize experiments with genetically consistent frozen cell stocks and to save time that might otherwise be spent on strain optimization, media preparation and other labor-intensive steps.

About Life Technologies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology company dedicated to improving the human condition.  Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific and medical advancements that make life even better.  Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance the fields of discovery and translational research, molecular medicine, stem cell-based therapies, food safety and animal health, and 21st century forensics.  The company manufactures both molecular diagnostic and research use only products.  Life Technologies' industry-leading brands are found in nearly every life sciences lab in the world and include innovative instrument systems under the Applied Biosystems and Ion Torrent names, as well as, the broadest range of reagents with its Invitrogen, Gibco, Ambion, Molecular Probes and Taqman products.  Life Technologies had sales of $3.6 billion in 2010, has a workforce of approximately 11,000 people, has a presence in approximately 160 countries, and possesses one of the largest intellectual property estates in the life sciences industry, with approximately 3,900 patents and exclusive licenses.  For more information on how we are making a difference, please visit our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com.  Follow Life Technologies on Twitter @LIFECorporation and on Facebook.

Life Technologies' Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements about Life Technologies' anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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Life Technologies Contact
Suzanne Clancy
760-602-4545
760-717-8294 (Mobile)
[email protected]

SOURCE Life Technologies Corporation