Founded in 1981, Applied Biosystems (AB) has developed many of the cutting-edge molecular technologies that have propelled the life science revolution
This year, more than 4000 employees and 40,000 customers in more than 100 countries around the world will celebrate 25 years of advancing life science as they look towards the future.
Applied Biosystems (AB) continues to play a critical role in developing innovative products and services for life science research, pharmaceutical research and development, biosecurity, forensic and agricultural testing.
AB's gold-standard technologies have led to many discoveries spanning the entire spectrum of life science discovery and development, from basic discovery, clinical research studies, quality assurance and control in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and advances in clinical diagnostics, to identification of "cold case" criminals with forensic evidence and the detection of global health concerns, such as Avian Flu, SARS, anthrax and the West Nile Virus.
25 years of key breakthroughs.
1981: Two engineers from Hewlett Packard - Andre Marion and Sam Eletr - commence operations of Applied Biosystems.
1982: AB develops the first gas-phase protein sequencer.
The 470A introduces an automated protein, opening new avenues for protein exploration and transforming protein science almost overnight.
1983: The first successful DNA synthesis system makes primers and probes readily available for the first time.
AB technology spurs a leap in genetic research, and lays a foundation for the development of DNA sequencing and PCR technologies.
1984: AB launches its instrument-reagent system, the 430A Peptide Synthesizer, giving researchers new ways to study protein structure and function.
Nearly 400 AB automated instruments are in use in laboratories worldwide.
AB offers a number of services including the synthesis of custom DNA and protein fragments and the sequencing of customer protein samples.
1986: AB commercialises the first automated DNA sequencer, allowing researchers to unravel genetic secrets.
1995: AB pioneers Sequence Detection Systems - real-time PCR instruments and reagents - enabling quantitative gene expression and high throughput genotyping studies.
1995: DNA analysis moves into animal parentage and GMO crop analysis.
AB PCR-based kits and instruments and software verify the parentage of livestock and domestic animals and detect genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food.
1995: AB leads the development of DNA-based human identification by introducing systems that automate and standardise DNA-based technology for forensic investigation.
1996: AB introduces ABI PRISM 7700 Sequence Detection System, enabling identification of unknown samples.
Scientists use this new technology to evaluate the amount of HIV virus in a sample and to detect levels of expression of various oncogenes.
1997: AB moves microbiology in a new direction.
The company introduces automated real-time PCR-based systems for the identification of microbes, such as Salmonella and E.
coli in food and the environment.
1998: AB makes DNA sequencing industrial scale.
The ABI Prism 3700 DNA Analyzer becomes the primary platform used to sequence the human genome, enabling the project to be completed years ahead of schedule.
2000: AB DNA analyzers and reagents enable draft version of the human genome sequence.
2001: AB human identification technology is used to identify World Trade Centre victims.
2001: Mass spectrometry expands capabilities in proteomics and drug development.
2002 - 2004: AB DNA analysers and reagents are used to identify 30,000 human genes and discover ten million plus unique SNPs, thereby completing a full genome sequence, components of the Human Genome Project.
2002: AB introduces the Applied Biosystems 3730xl DNA Analyzer, doubling researchers' production capacity, reducing the cost per analysis and improving data quality -- ultimately leading to the completion of the Human Genome Project.
2003: Researchers use AB DNA analysers, real-time PCR and mass spectrometers to sequence the SARS virus as a step in the development of a diagnostic test for the virus.
2004: AB introduces the SNPlex Genotyping System to genotype SNPs and the Expression Array System to evaluate gene expression to further enable the pharmacogenomics revolution.
2005: AB introduces Fast Real-Time PCR Systems and reagents, enabling increased throughput.
2006: AB introduces an initiative to detect and sequence the Avian Flu strain and releases commercial kits in Europe, Asia and Africa for epidemiology studies and other research.
2006: AB acquires the Research Products Division of Ambion.
