EXHIBIT 10.16


                               JOINDER AGREEMENT

         This Joinder  Agreement (the  "JOINDER") is entered into as of June 13,
2000 by and between Paul Capital  Partners VI Holdings  (the "NEW  NON-PREFERRED
HOLDER") and INFORMAX, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY").

         WHEREAS, the non-preferred holders of the Company who are listed on the
signature pages of the Non-Preferred Holder Rights Agreement (collectively,  the
"NON-PREFERRED   HOLDERS"  and  the   Company,   are  parties  to  that  certain
Non-Preferred  Holder Rights Agreement dated March 29, 2000 (the  "NON-PREFERRED
AGREEMENT") and attached hereto as Exhibit A;

         WHEREAS,  pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated June 13, 2000 by
and between the New Non-Preferred  Holder and the Company, the New Non-Preferred
Holder  acquired  shares of  non-voting  common stock of the Company (the "STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT"); and

         WHEREAS,  a condition to the obligations of the parties under the Stock
Purchase  Agreement is that the New  Non-Preferred  Holder become a party to the
Non-Preferred  Agreement  concurrently  with the  execution  and delivery of the
Stock Purchase Agreement.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises,  and other good and
valuable  consideration,   the  receipt  and  sufficiency  of  which  is  hereby
acknowledged,  the New  Non-Preferred  Holder and the  Company  hereby  agree as
follows:

         1.  The  New  Non-Preferred  Holder  is  hereby  made  a  party  to the
Non-Preferred  Agreement as a "Non-Preferred  Holder" in accordance with section
4.11 thereunder,  and the New Non-Preferred  Holder hereby agrees to be bound by
all the terms and conditions of the Non-Preferred  Agreement as a "Non-Preferred
Holder"  thereunder.  The terms and  conditions of the  Non-Preferred  Agreement
shall  apply to the  shares  of  common  stock  acquired  pursuant  to the Stock
Purchase Agreement.

         2. The New Non-Preferred Holder represents and warrants individually to
the  Company  and the other  Non-Preferred  Holders  that the New  Non-Preferred
Holder:  (a) has  reviewed  the  Joinder  and the  Non-Preferred  Agreement  (as
attached hereto) in their  entireties,  and fully  understands all provisions of
the Joinder and the  Non-Preferred  Agreement,  and (b) in  accordance  with the
terms of the Non-Preferred  Agreement the New Non-Preferred  Holder has become a
Non-Preferred  Holder under the Non-Preferred  Agreement and is bound by all the
terms and  conditions  of the  Non-Preferred  Agreement  with the same effect as
though the New Non-Preferred Holder was a subscribing party to the Non-Preferred
Agreement.

         3. All  references  in the  Non-Preferred  Agreement to  "Non-Preferred
Holder"  or  "Non-Preferred   Holders"  shall  be  deemed  to  include  the  New
Non-Preferred Holder.



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         4. All of the terms and conditions of the  Non-Preferred  Agreement are
unmodified and shall continue in full force and effect and shall be binding upon
the parties  hereto and their  respective  assigns in accordance  with the terms
thereof.

         5. This Joinder may be executed (including by facsimile) in one or more
counterparts,  each of  which  shall  be  deemed  an  original  but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.




             [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]



                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Joinder as of
the date first above written.

                                        INFORMAX, INC.


                                        By: /s/ James E. Bernstein
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name: James E. Bernstein
                                           Title:



                                        PAUL CAPITAL PARTNERS VI HOLDINGS

                                        By: PAUL CAPITAL PARTNERS VI, L.P.
                                             Its Managing Partner

                                        By: PAUL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
                                             Its General Partner

                                        By: /s/ Bryon T. Sheets
                                           -------------------------------------
                                             Bryon T. Sheets, Manager
                                             50 California Street
                                             Suite 3000
                                             San Francisco, CA  94111


                                      -3-

<PAGE>



                                   EXHIBIT A

           Non-Preferred Holders Rights Agreement of March 29, 2000.