Document:

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.

<PAGE>

         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.JOINDER AGREEMENT

                  This Joinder  Agreement (the  "JOINDER") is entered into as of
June 29, 2000 by and among COGENE BIOTECH VENTURES, L.P. (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");

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated June 29,
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  becomes 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, each of the New Non-Preferred Holders 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  nonvoting  common stock  acquired  pursuant to the
Stock Purchase Agreement.

                  2. The New Non-Preferred Holder represents and warrants 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.

<PAGE>

                  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.

                                        COMPANY

                                        INFORMAX, INC.

                                        By: /s/ ALEX TITOMIROV
                                            ---------------------------------
                                            Name:  Alex Titomirov
                                            Title: Chairman/CEO

                                        NEW NONPREFERRED HOLDERS

                                        COGENE BIOTECH VENTURES, L.P.

                                        BY:  COGENE BIOTECH VENTURES GP, L.L.C.,
                                             ITS GENERAL PARTNER

                                        By:    /s/ SCOTT E. SCHWINGER
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Name:   Scott E. Schwinger
                                              Title:  Vice President

                                       3JOINDER AGREEMENT

                  This Joinder  Agreement (the  "JOINDER") is entered into as of
June 23,  2000 by and among GENE FUND,  LP,  KENSON  VENTURE,  LLC AND VITALBIO
HOLDINGS, INC. (the "NEW NON-PREFERRED HOLDERS") 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");

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated June 23,
2000 by and  between  the New  Non-Preferred  Holder  and the  Company,  the New
Non-Preferred  Holders 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  Holders  become
parties 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, each of the New Non-Preferred Holders and the Company hereby agree
as follows:

                  1. Each of the New  Non-Preferred  Holders  is  hereby  made a
party to the Non-Preferred  Agreement as a "Non-Preferred  Holder" in accordance
with Section 4.11 thereunder,  and each of the New Non-Preferred  Holders hereby
agrees  severally but not jointly 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.  Each  of the  New  Non-Preferred  Holders  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 Holders.

                  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.
<PAGE>

                  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.

                                     COMPANY

                                     INFORMAX, INC.

                                     By: /s/ ALEX TITOMIROV
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Alex Titomirov
                                         Title: Chairman/CEO

                                     NEW NONPREFERRED HOLDERS

                                     GENE FUND, LP

                                     By: /s/ WILLIAM F. SNIDER
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         Name:  William F. Snider
                                         Title: General Partner

                                     KENSON VENTURE, LLC

                                     By:  /s/   Kenneth Fong
                                         ------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Kenneth Fong
                                         Title: Chairman

                                     VITALBIO HOLDINGS, INC.

                                     By: /s/ ROBERT P. CARTER
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Robert P. Carter
                                         Title: V.P.

                                       3

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