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Prepared and filed by St Ives Financial
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>UNITED STATES</b></font><br>
<font size="2" face="serif"><b>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></font><br>
<font size="2" face="serif"><b>Washington, D. C.  20549</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>___________</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>FORM 8-K</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>CURRENT REPORT</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>December 24, 2005</b></font><br>
<font size="2" face="serif">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)</font></p>
<p align="center"><b><font face="serif" size="3">APPLERA CORPORATION</font></b><br>
<font size="2" face="serif">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></p>
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<td width="33%"><b><font size="2" face="serif">Delaware</font></b></td>
<td width="34%"><b><font size="2" face="serif">1-4389</font></b></td>
<td><b><font size="2" face="serif">06-1534213</font></b></td>
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  <td width="33%"><font size="2" face="serif">(State or other
    jurisdiction<br>
of Incorporation)</font></td>
  <td width="34%"><font size="2" face="serif">(Commission<br>
file number)<br>
</font></td>
  <td><font size="2" face="serif">(IRS Employer<br>
Identification No.)</font></td>
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</table>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>301 Merritt 7</b></font><br>
<font size="2" face="serif"><b>Norwalk, Connecticut  06851</b></font><br>
<font size="2" face="serif">(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>(203) 840-2000</b></font><br>
<font size="2" face="serif">(Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code)</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>N/A<br></b>(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)<br></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</font></p>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></td>
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  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif"><img src="emptybox.gif"></font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></td>
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  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif"><img src="emptybox.gif"></font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></td>
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  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif"><img src="emptybox.gif"></font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Item 1.01.Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.</b></font></td>
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<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) On December 27, 2005, Applera Corporation (&#147;Applera&#148;) announced that it had entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Ambion, Inc. (&#147;Ambion&#148;), Applera, Ambion Acquisition Corp., and Mathew M. Winkler, in his capacity as Representative, dated as of December 24, 2005 (the &#147;Merger Agreement&#148;), pursuant to which Applera&#146;s Applied Biosystems Group will acquire the Research Products Division of Ambion for $273 million in cash, subject to certain closing adjustments related to working capital, transaction expenses, and the amount of outstanding debt of Ambion at the closing.  The transaction will be completed as a reverse triangular
merger (the &#147;Merger&#148;), and after the Merger Ambion will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Applera.  Promptly following the Merger, Ambion will sell its existing diagnostics business to Asuragen, a newly-formed affiliate of Mr. Winkler (the &#147;Divestiture&#148;).  As a result of the Merger and the Divestiture, Ambion, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Applera, will operate only its existing Research Products Division.  The transaction is subject to the receipt of Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust clearance and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2006.  The transaction was announced and further described in a press release issued by Applera and Ambion on December 27, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and
incorporated by reference herein.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.</b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b><i>(c) Exhibits.</i></b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following exhibits are filed with this Report:</font></p>
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<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
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<td width="15%"><font size="2" face="serif"><i>Exhibit No.</i></font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><i>Description</i></font></td>
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  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td width="15%">&nbsp;</td>
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<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="15%"><font size="2" face="serif">99.1</font></td>
<td align="left">
<font size="2" face="serif"> Press Release issued December 27, 2005.</font></td>
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>SIGNATURES</b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></p>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td colspan="2"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>APPLERA
    CORPORATION</b></font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
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    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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<td width="40%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
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<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">By: </font></td>
<td align="left">
<font size="2" face="serif"> <u>/s/ Dennis L. Winger&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u></font></td>
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<td width="40%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Dennis L. Winger</font></td>
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<td width="40%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Senior Vice President and</font></td>
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<td width="40%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Chief Financial Officer</font></td>
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<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Dated:  December 29, 2005</font></p>
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>EXHIBIT INDEX</b></font></p>
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<td width="10%"><font size="2" face="serif"><i>Exhibit No.</i></font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><i>Description</i></font></td>
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  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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<td width="10%"><font size="2" face="serif">99.1</font></td>
<td align="left">
<font size="2" face="serif"> Press Release issued December 27, 2005.</font></td>
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Prepared and filed by St Ives Financial
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C.  20549
___________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
December 24, 2005
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)
APPLERA CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
1-4389
06-1534213
(State or other
    jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
file number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
301 Merritt 7
Norwalk, Connecticut  06851
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)
(203) 840-2000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01.Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
(a) On December 27, 2005, Applera Corporation ("Applera") announced that it had entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Ambion, Inc. ("Ambion"), Applera, Ambion Acquisition Corp., and Mathew M. Winkler, in his capacity as Representative, dated as of December 24, 2005 (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which Applera's Applied Biosystems Group will acquire the Research Products Division of Ambion for $273 million in cash, subject to certain closing adjustments related to working capital, transaction expenses, and the amount of outstanding debt of Ambion at the closing.  The transaction will be completed as a reverse triangular
merger (the "Merger"), and after the Merger Ambion will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Applera.  Promptly following the Merger, Ambion will sell its existing diagnostics business to Asuragen, a newly-formed affiliate of Mr. Winkler (the "Divestiture").  As a result of the Merger and the Divestiture, Ambion, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Applera, will operate only its existing Research Products Division.  The transaction is subject to the receipt of Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust clearance and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2006.  The transaction was announced and further described in a press release issued by Applera and Ambion on December 27, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and
incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed with this Report:
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release issued December 27, 2005.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
APPLERA
    CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Dennis L. Winger
Dennis L. Winger
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Dated:  December 29, 2005
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release issued December 27, 2005.