Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                  INVITROGEN CORPORATION 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

    1.  ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.

        1.1 ESTABLISHMENT. The Invitrogen Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan
    (the "PLAN") is hereby established effective as of May 28, 1997 (the
    "EFFECTIVE DATE").

        1.2 PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the
    Participating Company Group and its shareholders by providing an incentive
    to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the
    Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to
    the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group.

        1.3 TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall continue in effect until the earlier of
    its termination by the Board or the date on which all of the shares of Stock
    available for issuance under the Plan have been issued and all restrictions
    on such shares under the terms of the Plan and the agreements evidencing
    Options granted under the Plan have lapsed. However, all Options shall be
    granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date the
    Plan is adopted by the Board or the date the Plan is duly approved by the
    shareholders of the Company.

    2.  DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

        2.1 DEFINITIONS. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have
    their respective meanings set forth below:

           (a) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company. If one or
       more Committees have been appointed by the Board to administer the Plan,
       "Board" also means such Committee(s).

           (b) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
       any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.

           (c) "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee or other committee
       of the Board duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers
       as shall be specified by the Board. Unless the powers of the Committee
       have been specifically limited, the Committee shall have all of the
       powers of the Board granted herein, including, without limitation, the
       power to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the terms of
       the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by law.

           (d) "COMPANY" means Invitrogen Corporation, a California corporation,
       or any successor corporation thereto.

           (e) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by a
       Participating Company to render services other than as an Employee or a
       Director.

           (f) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board or of the board of
       directors of any other Participating Company.

           (g) "EMPLOYEE" means any person treated as an employee (including an
       officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records
       of a Participating Company, and, with respect to any Incentive Stock
       Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section
       422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a Director
       nor payment of a director's fee shall be sufficient to constitute
       employment for purposes of the Plan.

           (h) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
       amended.
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           (i) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of a share
       of Stock or other property as determined by the Board, in its sole
       discretion, or by the Company, in its sole discretion, if such
       determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to
       the following:

               (i) If, on such date, there is a public market for the Stock, the
           Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing sale price
           of a share of Stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices
           of a share of Stock if the Stock is so quoted instead) as quoted on
           the Nasdaq National Market, the Nasdaq Small-Cap Market or such other
           national or regional securities exchange or market system
           constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in the
           WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as the Company deems
           reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the
           Stock has traded on such securities exchange or market system, the
           date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the
           last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant date,
           or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Board, in
           its sole discretion.

               (ii) If, on such date, there is no public market for the Stock,
           the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by
           the Board without regard to any restriction other than a restriction
           which, by its terms, will never lapse.

           (j) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to be (as set
       forth in the Option Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock
       option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

           (k) "INSIDER" means an officer or a Director of the Company or any
       other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the
       Exchange Act.

           (l) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to be
       (as set forth in the Option Agreement) or which does not qualify as an
       Incentive Stock Option.

           (m) "OPTION" means a right to purchase Stock (subject to adjustment
       as provided in Section 4.2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
       Plan. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory
       Stock Option.

           (n) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company
       and an Optionee setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of
       the Option granted to the Optionee and any shares acquired upon the
       exercise thereof.

           (o) "OPTIONEE" means a person who has been granted one or more
       Options.

           (p) "PARENT CORPORATION" means any present or future "parent
       corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

           (q) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY" means the Company or any Parent
       Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation.

           (r) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY GROUP" means, at any point in time, all
       corporations collectively which are then Participating Companies.

           (s) "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended
       from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.

           (t) "STOCK" means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from
       time to time in accordance with Section 4.2.

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           (u) "SUBSIDIARY CORPORATION" means any present or future "subsidiary
       corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

           (v) "TEN PERCENT OWNER OPTIONEE" means an Optionee who, at the time
       an Option is granted to the Optionee, owns stock possessing more than ten
       percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
       of a Participating Company within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the
       Code.

        2.2 CONSTRUCTION. Captions and titles contained herein are for
    convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any
    provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the
    singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.
    Use of the term "or" is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context
    clearly requires otherwise.

    3.  ADMINISTRATION.

        3.1 ADMINISTRATION BY THE BOARD. The Plan shall be administered by the
    Board. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any Option shall be
    determined by the Board, and such determinations shall be final and binding
    upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Option. Any officer
    of a Participating Company shall have the authority to act on behalf of the
    Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or
    election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company
    herein, provided the officer has apparent authority with respect to such
    matter, right, obligation, determination or election.

        3.2 ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO INSIDERS. With respect to
    participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity
    security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange
    Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if
    any, of Rule 16b-3.

        3.3 POWERS OF THE BOARD. In addition to any other powers set forth in
    the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have the
    full and final power and authority, in its sole discretion:

           (a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which,
       Options shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock to be subject
       to each Option;

           (b) to designate Options as Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory
       Stock Options;

           (c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other
       property;

           (d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to
       each Option (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired upon
       the exercise thereof, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise
       price of the Option, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased upon
       the exercise of the Option, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax
       withholding obligation arising in connection with the Option or such
       shares, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of stock, (iv)
       the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability of the Option or
       the vesting of any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof, (v) the
       time of the expiration of the Option, (vi) the effect of the Optionee's
       termination of employment or service with the Participating Company Group
       on any of the foregoing, and (vii) all other terms, conditions and
       restrictions applicable to the Option or such shares not inconsistent
       with the terms of the Plan;

           (e) to approve one or more forms of Option Agreement;

           (f) to amend, modify, extend, cancel, renew, or grant a new Option in
       substitution for, any Option or to waive any restrictions or conditions

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       applicable to any Option or any shares acquired upon the exercise
       thereof;

           (g) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability of
       any Option or the vesting of any shares acquired upon the exercise
       thereof, including with respect to the period following an Optionee's
       termination of employment or service with the Participating Company
       Group;

           (h) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies
       relating to the Plan, or to adopt supplements to, or alternative versions
       of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Board deems necessary
       or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax policy
       or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted
       Options; and

           (i) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any
       inconsistency in the Plan or any Option Agreement and to make all other
       determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or
       any Option as the Board may deem advisable to the extent consistent with
       the Plan and applicable law.

    4.  SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.

        4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to adjustment as provided
    in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be
    issued under the Plan shall be the sum of (a) six hundred nine thousand six
    hundred eighty five (609,685) shares, and (b) the number of shares of Stock,
    as of the Effective Date, subject to outstanding options or reserved and
    available for grant pursuant to the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan (the
    "1995 PLAN OPTIONS") resulting in an aggregate total of three million seven
    hundred thirty five thousand four hundred seventy nine (3,735,479) shares
    (the "SHARE RESERVE") and shall consist of authorized but unissued or
    reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof. Notwithstanding the
    foregoing, the Share Reserve, determined at any time, shall be reduced by
    (a) the number shares remaining subject to outstanding 1995 Plan Options,
    and (b) the number shares issued upon the exercise of 1995 Plan Options. If
    an outstanding Option for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled,
    or if shares of Stock acquired, subject to repurchase, upon the exercise of
    an Option are repurchased by the Company, the shares of Stock allocable to
    the unexercised portion of such Option or such repurchased shares of Stock
    shall again be available for issuance under the Plan.

        4.2 ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE. In the event of any
    stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization,
    combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of
    the Company, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and class
    of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Options and in the
    exercise price per share of any outstanding Options. If a majority of the
    shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to
    outstanding Options are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become
    (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event, as defined in Section
    8.1) shares of another corporation (the "NEW SHARES"), the Board may
    unilaterally amend the outstanding Options to provide that such Options are
    exercisable for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number
    of shares subject to, and the exercise price per share of, the outstanding
    Options shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by
    the Board, in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
    fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2
    shall be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number, as determined by
    the Board, and in no event may the exercise price of any Option be decreased
    to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to the
    Option. The adjustments determined by the Board pursuant to this Section 4.2
    shall be final, binding and conclusive.

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    5.  ELIGIBILITY AND OPTION LIMITATIONS.

        5.1 PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR OPTIONS. Options may be granted only to
    Employees, Consultants, and Directors. For purposes of the foregoing
    sentence, "Employees," "Consultants," and "Directors" shall include
    prospective Employees, prospective Consultants and prospective Directors to
    whom Options are granted in connection with written offers of employment or
    other service relationship with the Participating Company Group. Eligible
    persons may be granted more than one (1) Option.

        5.2 OPTION GRANT RESTRICTIONS. Any person who is not an Employee on the
    effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only
    a Nonstatutory Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option granted to a
    prospective Employee upon the condition that such person become an Employee
    shall be deemed granted effective on the date such person commences service
    as an Employee with a Participating Company, with an exercise price
    determined as of such date in accordance with Section 6.1.

        5.3 FAIR MARKET VALUE LIMITATION. To the extent that options designated
    as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock option plans of the
    Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by an
    Optionee for the first time during any calendar year for stock having an
    aggregate Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars
    ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be
    treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 5.3,
    options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in
    the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock
    shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is
    granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a different limitation from
    that set forth in this Section 5.3, such different limitation shall be
    deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such
    Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option
    is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock
    Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section 5.3,
    the Optionee may designate which portion of such Option the Optionee is
    exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Optionee shall be deemed
    to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first.
    Separate certificates representing each such portion shall be issued upon
    the exercise of the Option.

    6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS. Options shall be evidenced by Option
Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such
form as the Board shall from time to time establish. No Option or purported
Option shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced
by a fully executed Option Agreement. Option Agreements may incorporate all or
any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject
to the following terms and conditions:

        6.1 EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price for each Option shall be
    established in the sole discretion of the Board; provided, however, that (a)
    the exercise price per share for an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less
    than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of
    grant of the Option, (b) the exercise price per share for a Nonstatutory
    Stock Option shall be not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair
    Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the
    Option, and (c) no Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall have
    an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the
    Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the
    Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock
    Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price
    lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is
    granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a
    manner qualifying under the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

        6.2 EXERCISE PERIOD. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times,
    or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions,
    performance criteria, and restrictions as shall be determined by the Board

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    and set forth in the Option Agreement evidencing such Option; provided,
    however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten
    (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no
    Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall be
    exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date
    of grant of such Option, and (c) no Option granted to a prospective
    Employee, prospective Consultant or prospective Director may become
    exercisable prior to the date on which such person commences service with a
    Participating Company.

        6.3  PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.

           (a) FORMS OF CONSIDERATION AUTHORIZED. Except as otherwise provided
       below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock
       being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by
       check, or cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company of shares of
       Stock owned by the Optionee having a Fair Market Value (as determined by
       the Company without regard to any restrictions on transferability
       applicable to such stock by reason of federal or state securities laws or
       agreements with an underwriter for the Company) not less than the
       exercise price, (iii) by the assignment of the proceeds of a sale or loan
       with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the
       exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an
       exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated
       from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
       System) (a "CASHLESS EXERCISE"), (iv) by the Optionee's promissory note
       in a form approved by the Company, (v) by such other consideration as may
       be approved by the Board from time to time to the extent permitted by
       applicable law, or (vi) by any combination thereof. The Board may at any
       time or from time to time, by adoption of or by amendment to the standard
       forms of Option Agreement described in Section 7, or by other means,
       grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of
       consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which
       otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

           (b) TENDER OF STOCK. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may not
       be exercised by tender to the Company of shares of Stock to the extent
       such tender of Stock would constitute a violation of the provisions of
       any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the
       Company's stock. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, an Option may
       not be exercised by tender to the Company of shares of Stock unless such
       shares either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6)
       months or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.

           (c) CASHLESS EXERCISE. The Company reserves, at any and all times,
       the right, in the Company's sole and absolute discretion, to establish,
       decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the
       exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise.

           (d) PAYMENT BY PROMISSORY NOTE. No promissory note shall be permitted
       if the exercise of an Option using a promissory note would be a violation
       of any law. Any permitted promissory note shall be on such terms as the
       Board shall determine at the time the Option is granted. The Board shall
       have the authority to permit or require the Optionee to secure any
       promissory note used to exercise an Option with the shares of Stock
       acquired upon the exercise of the Option or with other collateral
       acceptable to the Company. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if the
       Company at any time is subject to the regulations promulgated by the
       Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other
       governmental entity affecting the extension of credit in connection with
       the Company's securities, any promissory note shall comply with such
       applicable regulations, and the Optionee shall pay the unpaid principal
       and accrued interest, if any, to the extent necessary to comply with such
       applicable regulations.

        6.4 TAX WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the right, but not the
    obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable upon the exercise of

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    an Option, or to accept from the Optionee the tender of, a number of whole
    shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company,
    equal to all or any part of the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if
    any, required by law to be withheld by the Participating Company Group with
    respect to such Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof.
    Alternatively or in addition, in its sole discretion, the Company shall have
    the right to require the Optionee, through payroll withholding, cash payment
    or otherwise, including by means of a Cashless Exercise, to make adequate
    provision for any such tax withholding obligations of the Participating
    Company Group arising in connection with the Option or the shares acquired
    upon the exercise thereof. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver
    shares of Stock or to release shares of Stock from an escrow established
    pursuant to the Option Agreement until the Participating Company Group's tax
    withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Optionee.

    7.  STANDARD FORMS OF OPTION AGREEMENT.

        7.1 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Unless otherwise provided by the Board at
    the time the Option is granted, an Option designated as an "Incentive Stock
    Option" shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set
    forth in the form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement adopted by the Board
    concurrently with its adoption of the Plan and as amended from time to time.

        7.2 NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS. Unless otherwise provided by the Board
    at the time the Option is granted, an Option designated as a "Nonstatutory
    Stock Option" shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions
    set forth in the form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement adopted by the
    Board concurrently with its adoption of the Plan and as amended from time to
    time.

        7.3 STANDARD TERM OF OPTIONS. Except as otherwise provided in Section
    6.2 or by the Board in the grant of an Option, any Option granted hereunder
    shall have a term of ten (10) years from the effective date of grant of the
    Option.

        7.4 AUTHORITY TO VARY TERMS. The Board shall have the authority from
    time to time to vary the terms of any of the standard forms of Option
    Agreement described in this Section 7 either in connection with the grant or
    amendment of an individual Option or in connection with the authorization of
    a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and
    conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of
    Option Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

    8.  TRANSFER OF CONTROL.

        8.1  DEFINITIONS.

           (a) An "OWNERSHIP CHANGE EVENT" shall be deemed to have occurred if
       any of the following occurs with respect to the Company:

               (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series
           of related transactions by the shareholders of the Company of more
           than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of the Company;

               (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party;

              (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all
           of the assets of the Company; or

               (iv) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

           (b) A "TRANSFER OF CONTROL" shall mean an Ownership Change Event or a
       series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, the
       "TRANSACTION") wherein the shareholders of the Company immediately before
       the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction, in
       substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the
       Company's voting stock immediately before the Transaction, direct or
       indirect beneficial ownership of

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       more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
       outstanding voting stock of the Company or the corporation or
       corporations to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the
       "TRANSFEREE CORPORATION(S)"), as the case may be. For purposes of the
       preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without
       limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting stock of
       one or more corporations which, as a result of the Transaction, own the
       Company or the Transferee Corporation(s), as the case may be, either
       directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations. The Board shall
       have the right to determine whether multiple sales or exchanges of the
       voting stock of the Company or multiple Ownership Change Events are
       related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

        8.2 EFFECT OF TRANSFER OF CONTROL ON OPTIONS. In the event of a Transfer
    of Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation
    or parent corporation thereof, as the case may be (the "ACQUIRING
    CORPORATION"), may either assume the Company's rights and obligations under
    outstanding Options or substitute for outstanding Options substantially
    equivalent options for the Acquiring Corporation's stock. For purposes of
    this Section 8.2, an Option shall be deemed assumed if, following the
    Transfer of Control, the Option confers the right to purchase in accordance
    with its terms and conditions, for each share of Stock subject to the Option
    immediately prior to the Transfer of Control, the consideration (whether
    stock, cash or other securities or property) to which a holder of a share of
    Stock on the effective date of the Transfer of Control was entitled. Any
    Options which are neither assumed or substituted for by the Acquiring
    Corporation in connection with the Transfer of Control nor exercised as of
    the date of the Transfer of Control shall terminate and cease to be
    outstanding effective as of the date of the Transfer of Control.
    Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares acquired upon exercise of an Option
    prior to the Transfer of Control and any consideration received pursuant to
    the Transfer of Control with respect to such shares shall continue to be
    subject to all applicable provisions of the Option Agreement evidencing such
    Option except as otherwise provided in such Option Agreement. Furthermore,
    notwithstanding the foregoing, if the corporation the stock of which is
    subject to the outstanding Options immediately prior to an Ownership Change
    Event described in Section 8.1(a)(i) constituting a Transfer of Control is
    the surviving or continuing corporation and immediately after such Ownership
    Change Event less than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting
    power of its voting stock is held by another corporation or by other
    corporations that are members of an affiliated group within the meaning of
    Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to the provisions of Section
    1504(b) of the Code, the outstanding Options shall not terminate unless the
    Board otherwise provides in its sole discretion.

    9. PROVISION OF INFORMATION. At least annually, copies of the Company's
balance sheet and income statement for the just completed fiscal year shall be
made available to each Optionee and purchaser of shares of Stock upon the
exercise of an Option. The Company shall not be required to provide such
information to persons whose duties in connection with the Company assure them
access to equivalent information.

    10.  NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.  During the lifetime of the Optionee, an
Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee or the Optionee's guardian or
legal representative. No Option shall be assignable or transferable by the
Optionee, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

    11. INDEMNIFICATION. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as
they may have as members of the Board or officers or employees of the
Participating Company Group, members of the Board and any officers or employees
of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board or the
Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable
expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred in
connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection
with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason
of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or
any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement

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thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel
selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any
such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it
shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable
for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided,
however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit
or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the
opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

    12. TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN. The Board may terminate or amend the
Plan at any time. However, subject to changes in applicable law, regulations or
rules that would permit otherwise, without the approval of the Company's
shareholders there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of
shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the
provisions of Section 4.2), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to
receive Incentive Stock Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that
would require approval of the Company's shareholders under any applicable law,
regulation or rule. In any event, no termination or amendment of the Plan may
adversely affect any then outstanding Option or any unexercised portion thereof,
without the consent of the Optionee, unless such termination or amendment is
required to enable an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option or is necessary to comply with any applicable law,
regulation or rule.

    13. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. The Plan or any increase in the maximum number of
shares of Stock issuable thereunder as provided in Section 4.1 (the "MAXIMUM
SHARES") shall be approved by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12)
months of the date of adoption thereof by the Board. Options granted prior to
shareholder approval of the Plan or in excess of the Maximum Shares previously
approved by the shareholders shall become exercisable no earlier than the date
of shareholder approval of the Plan or such increase in the Maximum Shares, as
the case may be.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that
the foregoing Invitrogen Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan was duly adopted by
the Board on May 28, 1997. Additionally, the Secretary notes that the share
reserve set forth in section 4.1 of the Plan reflects the seven (7) for one (1)
stock split which became effective upon the Company's reincorporation into
Delaware on June 17, 1997.

                                          /s/ JOSEPH FERNANDEZ
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Joseph Fernandez
                                          SECRETARY

                                       9
<PAGE>

      FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE INVITROGEN CORPORATION 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

    This First Amendment to Invitrogen Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") is made pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan. Capitalized terms not
defined in this First Amendment shall have the meanings provided in the Plan.

    WHEREAS, it has been determined to be in the best interests of the Company
that the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan
be increased by seven hundred fifty thousand (750,000);

    WHEREAS, the Company wishes to provide options to acquire Stock to its
Nonemployee Directors to strengthen the incentives of such directors to act in
the best interests of the Company;

    WHEREAS, the Company has determined to provide Optionees with additional
rights in the event of a Transfer in Control.

    Now therefore, the Plan is hereby amended as follows:

    1.  SECTION 4.1 SHALL BE AMENDED TO STATE IN ITS ENTIRETY AS FOLLOWS:

           "4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to adjustment as
           provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of
           Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be the sum of (a) one
           million three hundred fifty-nine thousand six hundred eighty-five
           (1,359,685) shares, and (b) the number of shares of Stock, as of the
           date of this Amendment, subject to outstanding options or reserved
           and available for grant pursuant to the Company's 1995 Stock Option
           Plan (the "1995 PLAN OPTIONS") resulting in an aggregate total of
           four million four hundred eighty five thousand four hundred seventy
           nine (4,485,479) shares (the "SHARE RESERVE") and shall consist of
           authorized and unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any
           combination thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Share
           Reserve, determined at any time, shall be reduced by (a) the number
           of shares remaining subject to outstanding 1995 Plan Options, and (b)
           the number of shares issued upon the exercise of 1995 Plan Options.
           If an outstanding option for any reason expires or is terminated or
           canceled, or if the shares of Stock acquired, subject to repurchase,
           upon the exercise of an Option are repurchased by the Company, the
           shares of Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option
           or such repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for
           issuance under the Plan."

    2.  A NEW SECTION 6.5 SHALL BE ADDED TO THE PLAN WHICH SHALL STATE IN ITS
ENTIRETY AS FOLLOWS:

           "6.5 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR OPTIONS

        (a) AUTOMATIC GRANT.  Subject to the execution by a Nonemployee Director
    of an appropriate Option Agreement, Nonemployee Director Options shall be
    granted automatically and without further action of the Board, as follows:

           (i) INITIAL OPTION. Each person who first becomes a Nonemployee
       Director on or after the date of this Amendment shall be granted on the
       date such person first becomes a Nonemployee Director a Nonemployee
       Director Option to purchase ten thousand (10,000) shares of Stock (an
       "INITIAL OPTION"); provided, however, that an Initial Option shall not be
       granted to a Director who previously did not qualify as a Nonemployee
       Director but subsequently becomes a Nonemployee Director as a result of
       the termination of his or her status as an Employee.
<PAGE>

           (ii) ANNUAL OPTION. Each Nonemployee Director (including any Director
       who previously did not qualify as a Nonemployee Director but who
       subsequently becomes a Nonemployee Director) shall be granted on the date
       immediately following each annual meeting of the stockholders of the
       Company which occurs on or after the date of this Amendment (an "ANNUAL
       MEETING") a Nonemployee Director Option to purchase ten thousand (10,000)
       shares of Stock (an "ANNUAL OPTION"); provided, however, that a
       Nonemployee Director granted an Initial Option less than six months prior
       to date of an Annual Meeting shall not be granted an Annual Option
       pursuant to this Section on the date immediately following the same
       Annual Meeting.

           (iii) RIGHT TO DECLINE NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR OPTION. Notwithstanding
       the foregoing, any person may elect not to receive a Nonemployee Director
       Option by delivering written notice of such election to the Board no
       later than the day prior to the date such Nonemployee Director Option
       would otherwise be granted. A person so declining a Nonemployee Director
       Option shall receive no payment or other consideration in lieu of such
       declined Nonemployee Director Option. A person who has declined a
       Nonemployee Director Option may revoke such election by delivering
       written notice of such revocation to the Board no later than the day
       prior to the date such Nonemployee Director Option would be granted
       pursuant to Section 6.5(a)(i) or 6.5(a)(ii), as the case may be.

        (b) EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per share of Stock subject to a
    Nonemployee Director Option shall be the Fair Market Value of a share of
    Stock on the date the Nonemployee Director Option is granted.

        (c) EXERCISE PERIOD. Each Nonemployee Director Option shall terminate
    and cease to be exercisable on the date ten (10) years after the date of
    grant of the Nonemployee Director Option unless earlier terminated pursuant
    to the terms of the Plan or the Option Agreement.

        (d) RIGHT TO EXERCISE NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR OPTIONS.

           (i) INITIAL OPTIONS. Except as otherwise provided in the Option
       Agreement, each Initial Option shall become vested and exercisable
       cumulatively for 1/3 of the shares of Stock initially subject to the
       Option on each of the first three (3) anniversaries of the date on which
       the Initial Option was granted, provided that the Optionee's Service has
       not terminated prior to the relevant date.

           (ii) ANNUAL OPTIONS. Except as otherwise provided in the Option
       Agreement, each Annual Option shall become fully vested and exercisable
       on the first anniversary of the date of grant, provided the Optionee's
       Service has not terminated prior to such date.

        (e) EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE ON NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR OPTIONS.

           (i) OPTION EXERCISABILITY. Subject to earlier termination of the
       Nonemployee Director Option as otherwise provided herein, a Nonemployee
       Director Option shall be exercisable after an Optionee's termination of
       Service as follows:

               (A) DISABILITY. If the Optionee's Service with the Participating
           Company Group is terminated because of the Disability of the
           Optionee, the Nonemployee Director Option, to the extent unexercised
           and exercisable on the date on which the Optionee's Service
           terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee (or the Optionee's
           guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration
           of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Optionee's Service
           terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of
           the Option Expiration Date.

               (B) DEATH. If the Optionee's Service with the Participating
           Company Group is terminated because of the death of the Optionee, the
           Nonemployee Director Option, to the extent unexercised and

                                       2
<PAGE>

           exercisable on the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated,
           may be exercised by the Optionee's legal representative or other
           person who acquired the right to exercise the Nonemployee Director
           Option by reason of the Optionee's death at any time prior to the
           expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the
           Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no later than the
           Option Expiration Date. The Optionee's Service shall be deemed to
           have terminated on account of death if the Optionee dies within six
           (6) months after the Optionee's termination of Service.

               (C) OTHER TERMINATION OF SERVICE. If the Optionee's Service with
           the Participating Company Group terminates for any reason, except
           Disability or death, the Nonemployee Director Option, to the extent
           unexercised and exercisable by the Optionee on the date on which the
           Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee
           within six (6) months after the date on which the Optionee's Service
           terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration
           Date.

           (ii) EXTENSION IF OPTIONEE SUBJECT TO SECTION 16(b). Notwithstanding
       the foregoing, if a sale within the applicable time periods set forth in
       Section 6.5(e)(i) of shares acquired upon the exercise of the Nonemployee
       Director Option would subject the Optionee to suit under Section 16(b) of
       the Exchange Act, the Nonemployee Director Option shall remain
       exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day
       following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Optionee would
       no longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth
       (190th) day after the Optionee's termination of Service, and (iii) the
       Option Expiration Date.

    3.  SECTION 8.2 SHALL BE AMENDED TO STATE IN ITS ENTIRETY AS FOLLOWS:

           "8.2 EFFECT OF TRANSFER OF CONTROL ON OPTIONS. In the event of a
           Transfer of Control, the percentage of the Option that has vested
           shall be adjusted to 100% (if not already at that percentage) on the
           date that the Company mails the Optionee notice of the Transfer of
           Control at the last address shown on the records of the Company for
           such Optionee (the "NOTICE"), unless the surviving, continuing,
           successor, or purchasing corporation or parent corporation thereof,
           as the case may be (the "ACQUIRING CORPORATION"), either assumes the
           Company's rights and obligations under outstanding Options or
           substitutes for outstanding Options substantially equivalent options
           for the Acquiring Corporation's stock. Any Options which are neither
           assumed or substituted for by the Acquiring Corporation in connection
           with the Transfer of Control nor exercised as of the date fifteen
           days after the Notice of the Transfer of Control shall terminate and
           cease to be outstanding effective upon the later of (i) the date of
           the Transfer of Control or (ii) fifteen days after mailing of the
           Notice. For purposes of this Section 8.2, an Option shall be deemed
           assumed if, following the Transfer of Control, the Option confers the
           right to purchase in accordance with its terms and conditions, for
           each share of Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the
           Transfer of Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other
           securities or property) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the
           effective date of the Transfer of Control was entitled.
           Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares acquired upon exercise of an
           Option prior to the Transfer of Control and any consideration
           received pursuant to the Transfer of Control with respect to such
           shares shall continue to be subject to all applicable provisions of
           the Option Agreement evidencing such Option except as otherwise
           provided in such Option Agreement. Furthermore, notwithstanding the
           foregoing, if the corporation the

                                       3
<PAGE>

            stock of which is subject to the outstanding Options immediately
            prior to an Ownership Change Event described in Section 8.1(a)(i)
            constituting a Transfer of Control is the surviving or continuing
            corporation and immediately after such Ownership Change Event less
            than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of its
            voting stock is held by another corporation or by other corporations
            that are members of an affiliated group within the meaning of
            Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to the provisions of
            Section 1504(b) of the Code, the outstanding Options shall not
            terminate unless the Board otherwise provides in its sole
            discretion.

    4.  ALL OTHER TERMS OF THE PLAN SHALL REMAIN THE SAME.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of Invitrogen Corporation
certifies that the foregoing amendment to the 1997 Stock Option Plan was duly
adopted by the Board of Directors on November 20, 1998.

Dated: November 20, 1998

                                          INVITROGEN CORPORATION

                                          By:  /s/ JOSEPH FERNANDEZ
                                               --------------------------
                                               Joseph Fernandez
                                          Its: SECRETARY

                                       4
<PAGE>

                             SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE
                             INVITROGEN CORPORATION
                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

    Pursuant to Section 12 of the Invitrogen Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan"), said Plan is hereby amended as follows:
            `
    1.  SECTION 4.1 SHALL BE AMENDED TO STATE IN ITS ENTIRETY AS FOLLOWS:

           "4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to adjustment as
           provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of
           Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be the sum of (a) two
           million three hundred fifty-nine thousand six hundred eighty-five
           (2,359,685) shares, and (b) the number of shares of Stock, as of the
           Effective Date, subject to outstanding options or reserved and
           available for grant pursuant to the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan
           (the "1995 PLAN OPTIONS") resulting in an aggregate total of five
           million four hundred eight-five thousand four hundred seventy-nine
           (5,485,479) shares (the "SHARE RESERVE") and shall consist of
           authorized and unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any
           combination thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Share
           Reserve, determined at any time, shall be reduced by (a) the number
           of shares remaining subject to outstanding 1995 Plan Options, and (b)
           the number of shares issued upon the exercise of 1995 Plan Options.
           If an outstanding option for any reason expires or is terminated or
           canceled, or if the shares of Stock acquired, subject to repurchase,
           upon the exercise of an Option are repurchased by the Company, the
           shares of Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option
           or such repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for
           issuance under the Plan."

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of Invitrogen Corporation
certifies that the foregoing amendment to the 1997 Stock Option Plan was duly
adopted by the Board of Directors on July 7, 1999.

Dated: July 12, 1999

                                         INVITROGEN CORPORATION

                                         By:  /s/ WARNER R. BROADDUS
                                              ----------------------------
                                              Warner R. Broaddus
                                         Its: SECRETARY
<PAGE>

                             THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE
                             INVITROGEN CORPORATION
                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

         Pursuant to Section 12 of the Invitrogen Corporation 1997 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan"), said Plan is hereby amended as follows:

         1.  Section 4.1 shall be amended to state in its entirety as follows:

"4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued
under the Plan shall be the sum of (a) five million three hundred fifty-nine
thousand six hundred eight-five (5,359,685) shares, and (b) the number of shares
of Stock, as of the Effective Date, subject to outstanding options or reserved
and available for grant pursuant to the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan (the
"1995 PLAN OPTIONS") resulting in an aggregate total of eight million four
hundred eight-five thousand four hundred seventy-nine (8,485,479) shares (the
"SHARE RESERVE") and shall consist of authorized and unissued or reacquired
shares of Stock or any combination thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Share Reserve, determined at any time, shall be reduced by (a) the number of
shares remaining subject to outstanding 1995 Plan Options, and (b) the number of
shares issued upon the exercise of 1995 Plan Options. If an outstanding option
for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled, or if the shares of Stock
acquired, subject to repurchase, upon the exercise of an Option are repurchased
by the Company, the shares of Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of such
Option or such repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance
under the Plan."

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of Invitrogen Corporation
certifies that the foregoing amendment to the 1997 Stock Option Plan was duly
adopted by the Board of Directors on August 8, 2000.

Dated:  August 11, 2000

                                       INVITROGEN CORPORATION

                                       By:/s/ WARNER R. BROADDUS
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Warner R. Broaddus
                                       Its: Secretary<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.2

            INVITROGEN CORPORATION 1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

    1.  ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.

        1.1 ESTABLISHMENT. Invitrogen Corporation hereby establishes the 1998
    Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "PLAN"), effective as of the effective
    date of the initial registration by the Company of its Stock under Section
    12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EFFECTIVE
    DATE").

        1.2 PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the
    Company and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain
    and reward Eligible Employees of the Participating Company Group and by
    motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the
    Participating Company Group. The Plan provides such Eligible Employees with
    an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the
    purchase of Stock. The Company intends that the Plan qualify as an "employee
    stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Code (including any amendments
    or replacements of such section), and the Plan shall be so construed.

        1.3 TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall continue in effect until the earlier of
    its termination by the Board or the date on which all of the shares of Stock
    available for issuance under the Plan have been issued.

    2.  DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

        2.1 DEFINITIONS. Any term not expressly defined in the Plan but defined
    for purposes of Section 423 of the Code shall have the same definition
    herein. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their
    respective meanings set forth below:

           (a) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company. If one or
       more Committees have been appointed by the Board to administer the Plan,
       "Board" also means such Committee(s).

           (b) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
       any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.

           (c) "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee, or another
       committee of the Board duly appointed to administer the Plan and having
       such powers as shall be specified by the Board. Unless the powers of the
       Committee have been specifically limited, the Committee shall have all of
       the powers of the Board granted herein, including, without limitation,
       the power to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the
       terms of the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by law.

           (d) "COMPANY" means Invitrogen Corporation., a Delaware corporation,
       or any successor corporation thereto.

           (e) "COMPENSATION" means, with respect to any Offering Period,
       base wages or salary, commissions, overtime, bonuses, annual awards,
       other incentive payments, shift premiums, and all other compensation paid
       in cash during such Offering Period before deduction for any
       contributions to any plan maintained by a Participating Company and
       described in Section 401(k) or Section 125 of the Code. Compensation
       shall not include reimbursements of expenses, allowances, long-term
       disability, workers' compensation or any amount deemed received without
       the actual transfer of cash or any amounts directly or indirectly paid
       pursuant to the Plan or any other stock purchase or stock option plan, or
       any compensation other than base wages or salary.

           (f) "ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE" means an Employee who meets the requirements
       set forth in Section 5 for eligibility to participate in the Plan.
<PAGE>

           (g) "EMPLOYEE" means a person treated as an employee of a
       Participating Company for purposes of Section 423 of the Code. A
       Participant shall be deemed to have ceased to be an Employee either upon
       an actual termination of employment or upon the corporation employing the
       Participant ceasing to be a Participating Company. For purposes of the
       Plan, an individual shall not be deemed to have ceased to be an Employee
       while such individual is on any military leave, sick leave, or other bona
       fide leave of absence approved by the Company of ninety (90) days or
       less. In the event an individual's leave of absence exceeds ninety (90)
       days, the individual shall be deemed to have ceased to be an Employee on
       the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave unless the individual's right
       to reemployment with the Participating Company Group is guaranteed either
       by statute or by contract. The Company shall determine in good faith and
       in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or has
       ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual's
       employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes
       of an individual's participation in or other rights, if any, under the
       Plan as of the time of the Company's determination, all such
       determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive,
       notwithstanding that the Company or any governmental agency subsequently
       makes a contrary determination.

           (h) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, if there is then a
       public market for the Stock, the closing price of a share of Stock (or
       the mean of the closing bid and asked prices if the Stock is so quoted
       instead) as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, the Nasdaq Small-Cap
       Market or such other national or regional securities exchange or market
       system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in THE
       WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as the Company deems reliable.
       If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded
       on such securities exchange or market system, the date on which the Fair
       Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the
       Stock was so traded prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate
       day as shall be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. If there
       is then no public market for the Stock, the Fair Market Value on any
       relevant date shall be as determined by the Board. Notwithstanding the
       foregoing, the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on the Effective Date
       shall be deemed to be the public offering price set forth in the final
       prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
       connection with the public offering of the Stock on the Effective Date.

           (i) "OFFERING" means an offering of Stock as provided in Section 6.

           (j) "OFFERING DATE" means, for any Offering, the first day of the
       Offering Period with respect to such Offering.

           (k) "OFFERING PERIOD" means a period established in accordance with
       Section 6.1.

           (l) "PARENT CORPORATION" means any present or future "parent
       corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

           (m) "PARTICIPANT" means an Eligible Employee who has become a
       participant in an Offering Period in accordance with Section 7 and
       remains a participant in accordance with the Plan.

           (n) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY" means the Company or any Parent
       Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation designated by the Board as a
       corporation the Employees of which may, if Eligible Employees,
       participate in the Plan. The Board shall have the sole and absolute
       discretion to determine from time to time which Parent Corporations or
       Subsidiary Corporations shall be Participating Companies. Invitrogen BV,
       the Company's Netherlands subsidiary shall be a Participating Company
       unless and until the Board decides otherwise.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          (o) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY GROUP" means, at any point in time, the
       Company and all other corporations collectively which are then
       Participating Companies.

           (p) "PURCHASE DATE" means, for any Purchase Period, the last day of
       such period.

           (q) "PURCHASE PERIOD" means a period, if any, established in
       accordance with Section 6.2.

           (r) "PURCHASE PRICE" means the price at which a share of Stock may be
       purchased under the Plan, as determined in accordance with Section 9.

           (s) "PURCHASE RIGHT" means an option granted to a Participant
       pursuant to the Plan to purchase such shares of Stock as provided in
       Section 8, which the Participant may or may not exercise during the
       Offering Period in which such option is outstanding. Such option arises
       from the right of a Participant to withdraw any accumulated payroll
       deductions of the Participant not previously applied to the purchase of
       Stock under the Plan and to terminate participation in the Plan at any
       time during an Offering Period.

           (t) "STOCK" means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from
       time to time in accordance with Section 4.2.

           (u) "SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement in such form
       as specified by the Company, stating an Employee's election to
       participate in the Plan and authorizing payroll deductions under the Plan
       from the Employee's Compensation.

           (v) "SUBSCRIPTION DATE" means the last business day prior to the
       Offering Date of an Offering Period or such earlier date as the Company
       shall establish.

           (w) "SUBSIDIARY CORPORATION" means any present or future "subsidiary
       corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

        2.2 CONSTRUCTION. Captions and titles contained herein are for
    convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any
    provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the
    singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.
    Use of the term "or" is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context
    clearly requires otherwise.

    3.  ADMINISTRATION.

        3.1 ADMINISTRATION BY THE BOARD. The Plan shall be administered by the
    Board. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any form of agreement
    or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan,
    or of any Purchase Right shall be determined by the Board and shall be final
    and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or the Purchase
    Right. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine all
    of the relevant terms and conditions of Purchase Rights granted pursuant to
    the Plan; provided, however, that all Participants granted Purchase Rights
    pursuant to the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges within the
    meaning of Section 423(b)(5) of the Code. All expenses incurred in
    connection with the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

        3.2 AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS. Any officer of the Company shall have the
    authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right,
    obligation, determination or election that is the responsibility of or that
    is allocated to the Company herein, provided that the officer has apparent
    authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or
    election.

        3.3 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE COMPANY. The Company may,
    from time to time, consistent with the Plan and the requirements of

                                       3
<PAGE>

    Section 423 of the Code, establish, change or terminate such rules,
    guidelines, policies, procedures, limitations, or adjustments as deemed
    advisable by the Company, in its sole discretion, for the proper
    administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, (a) a minimum
    payroll deduction amount required for participation in an Offering, (b) a
    limitation on the frequency or number of changes permitted in the rate of
    payroll deduction during an Offering, (c) an exchange ratio applicable to
    amounts withheld in a currency other than United States dollars, (d) a
    payroll deduction greater than or less than the amount designated by a
    Participant in order to adjust for the Company's delay or mistake in
    processing a Subscription Agreement or in otherwise effecting a
    Participant's election under the Plan or as advisable to comply with the
    requirements of Section 423 of the Code, and (e) determination of the date
    and manner by which the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock is determined
    for purposes of administration of the Plan.

    4.  SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.

        4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to adjustment as provided
    in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be
    issued under the Plan shall be two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) and
    shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock, or
    any combination thereof. If an outstanding Purchase Right for any reason
    expires or is terminated or canceled, the shares of Stock allocable to the
    unexercised portion of such Purchase Right shall again be available for
    issuance under the Plan.

        4.2 ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE. In the event of any
    stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization,
    combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of
    the Company, or in the event of any merger (including a merger effected for
    the purpose of changing the Company's domicile), sale of assets or other
    reorganization in which the Company is a party, appropriate adjustments
    shall be made in the number and class of shares subject to the Plan and each
    Purchase Right and in the Purchase Price. If a majority of the shares which
    are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Purchase
    Rights are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or
    not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation
    (the "NEW SHARES"), the Board may unilaterally amend the outstanding
    Purchase Rights to provide that such Purchase Rights are exercisable for New
    Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to,
    and the Purchase Price of, the outstanding Purchase Rights shall be adjusted
    in a fair and equitable manner, as determined by the Board, in its sole
    discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any fractional share resulting
    from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be rounded down to the
    nearest whole number, and in no event may the Purchase Price be decreased to
    an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to the
    Purchase Right. The adjustments determined by the Board pursuant to this
    Section 4.2 shall be final, binding and conclusive.

    5.  ELIGIBILITY.

        5.1 EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE. Each Employee of a Participating
    Company is eligible to participate in the Plan and shall be deemed an
    Eligible Employee as of the first Offering Date following the commencement
    of his/her service with a Participating Company.

        5.2 EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS. Notwithstanding any provision of
    the Plan to the contrary, no Employee shall be granted a Purchase Right
    under the Plan if, immediately after such grant, such Employee would own or
    hold options to purchase stock of the Company or of any Parent Corporation
    or Subsidiary Corporation possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total
    combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of such corporation,
    as determined in accordance with Section 423(b)(3) of the Code. For purposes
    of this Section 5.2, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code
    shall apply in determining the stock ownership of such Employee.

                                       4
<PAGE>

    6.  OFFERINGS.

        6.1 OFFERING PERIODS. Except as otherwise set forth below, the Plan
    shall be implemented by sequential Offerings of approximately twenty-four
    (24) months duration (an "OFFERING PERIOD"). The first Offering Period shall
    commence on the Effective Date and end on January 31, 2001. Subsequent
    Offering Periods shall commence on the first day of February, May, August,
    and November of each year and end on the last day of the 24th month of such
    Offering Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may establish a
    different duration for one or more future Offering Periods or different
    commencing or ending dates for such Offering Periods; provided, however,
    that no Offering Period may have a duration exceeding twenty-seven (27)
    months. If the first or last day of an Offering Period is not a day on which
    the national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting
    the primary market for the Stock is open for trading, the Company shall
    specify the trading day that will be deemed the first or last day, as the
    case may be, of the Offering Period.

        6.2 PURCHASE PERIODS. Generally, each Offering Period will consist of
    eight (8) quarterly Purchase Periods which begin on the first day of
    February, May, August and November of each year and end on the last day of
    the third month of each such Purchase Period (i.e. the following April,
    July, October and January). The Purchase Period commencing on the Effective
    Date shall end on the last day of April, 1999. The Board may establish
    different Purchase Periods which may consist of two (2) or more consecutive
    Purchase Periods having such duration as the Board shall specify. The last
    day of each Purchase Period shall be a Purchase Date. If the first or last
    day of a Purchase Period is not a day on which the national or regional
    securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for the
    Stock is open for trading, the Company shall specify the trading day that
    will be deemed the first or last day, as the case may be, of the Purchase
    Period.

    7.  PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN.

        7.1 INITIAL PARTICIPATION. An Eligible Employee may become a Participant
    in an Offering Period by delivering a properly completed Subscription
    Agreement to the office designated by the Company not later than the close
    of business for such office on the Subscription Date established by the
    Company for such Offering Period. An Eligible Employee who does not deliver
    a properly completed Subscription Agreement to the Company's designated
    office on or before the Subscription Date for an Offering Period shall not
    participate in the Plan for that Offering Period or for any subsequent
    Offering Period unless such Eligible Employee subsequently delivers a
    properly completed Subscription Agreement to the appropriate office of the
    Company on or before the Subscription Date for such subsequent Offering
    Period. An Employee who becomes an Eligible Employee after the Offering Date
    of an Offering Period shall not be eligible to participate in such Offering
    Period but may participate in any subsequent Offering Period provided such
    Employee is still an Eligible Employee as of the Offering Date of such
    subsequent Offering Period.

        7.2 CONTINUED PARTICIPATION. A Participant shall automatically
    participate in the next Offering Period commencing immediately after the
    final Purchase Date of each Offering Period in which the Participant
    participates provided that such Participant remains an Eligible Employee on
    the Offering Date of the new Offering Period and has not either (a)
    withdrawn from the Plan pursuant to Section 12.1 or (b) terminated
    employment as provided in Section 13. A Participant who may automatically
    participate in a subsequent Offering Period, as provided in this Section, is
    not required to deliver any additional Subscription Agreement for the
    subsequent Offering Period in order to continue participation in the Plan.
    However, a Participant may deliver a new Subscription Agreement for a
    subsequent Offering Period in accordance with the procedures set forth in
    Section 7.1 if the Participant desires to change any of the elections
    contained in the Participant's then effective Subscription Agreement.

                                       5
<PAGE>

        7.3 ONE OFFERING PERIOD PER PARTICIPANT. A Participant may participate
    in only one Offering Period at any given time. A Participant's delivery to
    the Company of a Subscription Agreement for any given Offering Period shall
    constitute Participant's withdrawal from any concurrent Offering Period and
    termination of any Purchase Right granted pursuant thereto.

    8.  RIGHT TO PURCHASE SHARES.

        8.1 GRANT OF PURCHASE RIGHT. Except as set forth below, on the Offering
    Date of each Offering Period, each Participant in such Offering Period shall
    be granted automatically a Purchase Right consisting of an option to
    purchase the lesser of (a) that number of whole shares of Stock determined
    by dividing Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) by the Fair Market Value of a
    share of Stock on such Offering Date, reduced by the aggregate purchase
    price of any Stock purchased during any concurrent Offering Period(s) or (b)
    five thousand (5,000) shares of Stock, reduced by the number of shares of
    Stock purchased during any concurrent Offering Period(s). No Purchase Right
    shall be granted on an Offering Date to any person who is not, on such
    Offering Date, an Eligible Employee.

        8.2 PRO RATA ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE RIGHT. Notwithstanding the
    provisions of Section 8.1, if the Board establishes an Offering Period of
    any duration other than twenty four months, then (a) the dollar amount in
    Section 8.1 shall be determined by multiplying $2,083.33 by the number of
    months (rounded to the nearest whole month) in the Offering Period and
    rounding to the nearest whole dollar, and (b) the share amount in Section
    8.1 shall be determined by multiplying 208.33 shares by the number of months
    (rounded to the nearest whole month) in the Offering Period and rounding to
    the nearest whole share.

        8.3 CALENDAR YEAR PURCHASE LIMITATION. Notwithstanding any provision of
    the Plan to the contrary, no Participant shall be granted a Purchase Right
    which permits his or her right to purchase shares of Stock under the Plan to
    accrue at a rate which, when aggregated with such Participant's rights to
    purchase shares under all other employee stock purchase plans of a
    Participating Company intended to meet the requirements of Section 423 of
    the Code, exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) in Fair Market
    Value (or such other limit, if any, as may be imposed by the Code) for each
    calendar year in which such Purchase Right is outstanding at any time. For
    purposes of the preceding sentence, the Fair Market Value of shares
    purchased during a given Offering Period shall be determined as of the
    Offering Date for such Offering Period. The limitation described in this
    Section 8.3 shall be applied in conformance with applicable regulations
    under Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.

    9.  PURCHASE PRICE.

    The Purchase Price at which each share of Stock may be acquired in an
Offering Period upon the exercise of all or any portion of a Purchase Right
shall be established by the Board; provided, however, that the Purchase Price
shall not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lesser of (a) the Fair
Market Value of a share of Stock on the Offering Date of the Offering Period or
(b) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Purchase Date. Unless
otherwise provided by the Board prior to the commencement of an Offering Period,
the Purchase Price for that Offering Period shall be eighty-five percent (85%)
of the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Offering
Date of the Offering Period, or (b) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on
the Purchase Date.

    10.  ACCUMULATION OF PURCHASE PRICE THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTION.

    Shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of all or any portion of a
Purchase Right may be paid for only by means of payroll deductions from the
Participant's Compensation accumulated during the Offering Period for which such
Purchase Right was granted, subject to the following:

                                       6
<PAGE>

        10.1 AMOUNT OF PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. Except as otherwise provided herein,
    the amount to be deducted under the Plan from a Participant's Compensation
    on each payday during an Offering Period shall be determined by the
    Participant's Subscription Agreement. The Subscription Agreement shall set
    forth the percentage of the Participant's Compensation to be deducted on
    each payday during an Offering Period in whole percentages of not less than
    one percent (1%) (except as a result of an election pursuant to Section 10.3
    to stop payroll deductions made effective following the first payday during
    an Offering) or more than fifteen percent (15%). Notwithstanding the
    foregoing, the Board may change the limits on payroll deductions effective
    as of any future Offering Date.

        10.2 COMMENCEMENT OF PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. Payroll deductions shall
    commence on the first payday following the Offering Date and shall continue
    to the end of the Offering Period unless sooner altered or terminated as
    provided herein.

        10.3 ELECTION TO CHANGE OR STOP PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. During an Offering
    Period, a Participant may elect to increase or decrease the rate of or to
    stop deductions from his or her Compensation by delivering to the Company's
    designated office an amended Subscription Agreement authorizing such change
    on or before the "Change Notice Date." The "CHANGE NOTICE DATE" shall be a
    date prior to the beginning of the first pay period for which such election
    is to be effective as established by the Company from time to time and
    announced to the Participants. A Participant who elects to decrease the rate
    of his or her payroll deductions to zero percent (0%) shall nevertheless
    remain a Participant in the current Offering Period unless such Participant
    withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 12.1.

        10.4 ADMINISTRATIVE SUSPENSION OF PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. The Company may,
    in its sole discretion, suspend a Participant's payroll deductions under the
    Plan as the Company deems advisable to avoid accumulating payroll deductions
    in excess of the amount that could reasonably be anticipated to purchase the
    maximum number of shares of Stock permitted during a calendar year under the
    limit set forth in Section 8.3. Payroll deductions shall be resumed at the
    rate specified in the Participant's then effective Subscription Agreement at
    the beginning of the next Purchase Period the Purchase Date of which falls
    in the following calendar year.

        10.5 PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS. Individual bookkeeping accounts shall be
    maintained for each Participant. All payroll deductions from a Participant's
    Compensation shall be credited to such Participant's Plan account and shall
    be deposited with the general funds of the Company. All payroll deductions
    received or held by the Company may be used by the Company for any corporate
    purpose.

        10.6  NO INTEREST PAID.  Interest shall not be paid on sums deducted
    from a Participant's Compensation pursuant to the Plan.

        10.7 VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL FROM PLAN ACCOUNT. A Participant may withdraw
    all or any portion of the payroll deductions credited to his or her Plan
    account and not previously applied toward the purchase of Stock by
    delivering to the Company's designated office a written notice on a form
    provided by the Company for such purpose. A Participant who withdraws the
    entire remaining balance credited to his or her Plan account shall be deemed
    to have withdrawn from the Plan in accordance with Section 12.1. Amounts
    withdrawn shall be returned to the Participant as soon as practicable after
    the withdrawal and may not be applied to the purchase of shares in any
    Offering under the Plan. The Company may from time to time establish or
    change limitations on the frequency of withdrawals permitted under this
    Section, establish a minimum dollar amount that must be retained in the
    Participant's Plan account, or terminate the withdrawal right provided by
    this Section.

                                       7
<PAGE>

    11.  PURCHASE OF SHARES.

        11.1 EXERCISE OF PURCHASE RIGHT. On each Purchase Date of an Offering
    Period, each Participant who has not withdrawn from the Plan and whose
    participation in the Offering has not terminated before such Purchase Date
    shall automatically acquire pursuant to the exercise of the Participant's
    Purchase Right the number of whole shares of Stock determined by dividing
    (a) the total amount of the Participant's payroll deductions accumulated in
    the Participant's Plan account during the Offering Period and not previously
    applied toward the purchase of Stock by (b) the Purchase Price. However, in
    no event shall the number of shares purchased by the Participant during an
    Offering Period exceed the number of shares subject to the Participant's
    Purchase Right. No shares of Stock shall be purchased on a Purchase Date on
    behalf of a Participant whose participation in the Offering or the Plan has
    terminated before such Purchase Date.

        11.2 PRO RATA ALLOCATION OF SHARES. In the event that the number of
    shares of Stock which might be purchased by all Participants in the Plan on
    a Purchase Date exceeds the number of shares of Stock available in the Plan
    as provided in Section 4.1, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of
    the remaining shares in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as
    the Company shall determine to be equitable. Any fractional share resulting
    from such pro rata allocation to any Participant shall be disregarded.

        11.3 DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES. As soon as practicable after each
    Purchase Date, the Company shall arrange the delivery to each Participant,
    as appropriate, of a certificate representing the shares acquired by the
    Participant on such Purchase Date; provided that the Company may deliver
    such shares to a broker that holds such shares in street name for the
    benefit of the Participant. Shares to be delivered to a Participant under
    the Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant, or, if
    requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her
    spouse, or, if applicable, in the names of the heirs of the Participant.

        11.4 RETURN OF CASH BALANCE. Any cash balance remaining in a
    Participant's Plan account following any Purchase Date shall be refunded to
    the Participant as soon as practicable after such Purchase Date. However, if
    the cash to be returned to a Participant pursuant to the preceding sentence
    is an amount less than the amount that would have been necessary to purchase
    an additional whole share of Stock on such Purchase Date, the Company may
    retain such amount in the Participant's Plan account to be applied toward
    the purchase of shares of Stock in the subsequent Purchase Period or
    Offering Period, as the case may be.

        11.5 TAX WITHHOLDING. At the time a Participant's Purchase Right is
    exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time a Participant disposes of
    some or all of the shares of Stock he or she acquires under the Plan, the
    Participant shall make adequate provision for the foreign, federal, state
    and local tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group, if
    any, which arise upon exercise of the Purchase Right or upon such
    disposition of shares, respectively. The Participating Company Group may,
    but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant's compensation
    the amount necessary to meet such withholding obligations.

        11.6 EXPIRATION OF PURCHASE RIGHT. Any portion of a Participant's
    Purchase Right remaining unexercised after the end of the Offering Period to
    which the Purchase Right relates shall expire immediately upon the end of
    the Offering Period.

        11.7 REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS. Each Participant who has exercised all or
    part of his or her Purchase Right shall receive, as soon as practicable
    after the Purchase Date, a report of such Participant's Plan account setting
    forth the total payroll deductions accumulated prior to such exercise, the
    number of shares of Stock purchased, the Purchase Price for such shares, the
    date of purchase and the cash balance, if any, remaining immediately after
    such purchase that is to be refunded or retained in the Participant's Plan
    account pursuant to Section 11.4. The report required by this Section may be

                                       8
<PAGE>

    delivered in such form and by such means, including by electronic
    transmission, as the Company may determine.

    12.  WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN.

        12.1 VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN. A Participant may withdraw from
    the Plan by signing and delivering to the Company's designated office a
    written notice of withdrawal on a form provided by the Company for such
    purpose. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of an
    Offering Period. A Participant who voluntarily withdraws from the Plan is
    prohibited from resuming participation in the Plan in the same Offering from
    which he or she withdrew, but may participate in any subsequent Offering by
    again satisfying the requirements of Sections 5 and 7.1. The Company may
    impose, from time to time, a requirement that the notice of withdrawal from
    the Plan be on file with the Company's designated office for a reasonable
    period prior to the effectiveness of the Participant's withdrawal.

        12.2 RETURN OF PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. Upon a Participant's voluntary
    withdrawal from the Plan pursuant to Sections 12.1 or 10.7 or an automatic
    withdrawal pursuant to Section 12.3, the Participant's accumulated payroll
    deductions which have not been applied toward the purchase of shares of
    Stock shall be refunded to the Participant as soon as practicable after the
    withdrawal, without the payment of any interest, and the Participant's
    interest in the Plan shall terminate. Such accumulated payroll deductions to
    be refunded in accordance with this Section may not be applied to any other
    Offering under the Plan.

        12.3 AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL FROM AN OFFERING. If the Fair Market Value of
    a share of Stock on a Purchase Date (other than the final Purchase Date of
    an Offering Period) is less that the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock
    on the Offering Date for such Offering Period, then every Participant shall
    automatically be (a) withdrawn from such Offering Period after the
    acquisition of shares of Stock on the Purchase Date and (b) enrolled in the
    new Offering Period effective on its Offering Date. A Participant may elect
    not to be automatically withdrawn from an Offering Period pursuant to this
    Section 12.2 by delivering to the Company's designated office not later than
    the close of business on the Offering Date of the new Offering Period a
    written notice indicating such decision.

    13.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR ELIGIBILITY.

    Upon a Participant's ceasing, prior to a Purchase Date, to be an Employee of
the Participating Company Group for any reason, including retirement, disability
or death, or the failure of a Participant to remain an Eligible Employee, the
Participant's participation in the Plan shall terminate immediately. In such
event, the payroll deductions credited to the Participant's Plan account since
the last Purchase Date shall, as soon as practicable, be returned to the
Participant or, in the case of the Participant's death, to the Participant's
legal representative, and all of the Participant's rights under the Plan shall
terminate. Interest shall not be paid on sums returned pursuant to this Section
13. A Participant whose participation has been so terminated may again become
eligible to participate in the Plan by again satisfying the requirements of
Sections 5 and 7.1.

    14.  CHANGE IN CONTROL.

        14.1  DEFINITIONS.

           (a) An "OWNERSHIP CHANGE EVENT" shall be deemed to have occurred if
       any of the following occurs with respect to the Company: (i) the direct
       or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related
       transactions by the stockholders of the Company of more than fifty
       percent (50%) of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or
       consolidation in which the Company is a party; (iii) the sale, exchange,
       or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or
       (iv) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

                                       9
<PAGE>

           (b) A "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean an Ownership Change Event or a
       series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, the
       "TRANSACTION") wherein the stockholders of the Company immediately before
       the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction, in
       substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the
       Company's voting stock immediately before the Transaction, direct or
       indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the
       total combined voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the
       Company or the corporation or corporations to which the assets of the
       Company were transferred (the "TRANSFEREE CORPORATION(S)"), as the case
       may be. For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial
       ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from
       ownership of the voting stock of one or more corporations which, as a
       result of the Transaction, own the Company or the Transferee
       Corporation(s), as the case may be, either directly or through one or
       more subsidiary corporations. The Board shall have the right to determine
       whether multiple sales or exchanges of the voting stock of the Company or
       multiple Ownership Change Events are related, and its determination shall
       be final, binding and conclusive.

        14.2 EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL ON PURCHASE RIGHTS. In the event of a
    Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing
    corporation or parent corporation thereof, as the case may be (the
    "ACQUIRING CORPORATION"), may assume the Company's rights and obligations
    under the Plan. If the Acquiring Corporation elects not to assume the
    Company's rights and obligations under outstanding Purchase Rights, the
    Purchase Date of the then current Offering Period (or Purchase Period) shall
    be accelerated to a date before the date of the Change in Control specified
    by the Board, but the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding
    Purchase Rights shall not be adjusted. All Purchase Rights which are neither
    assumed by the Acquiring Corporation in connection with the Change in
    Control nor exercised as of the date of the Change in Control shall
    terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the date of the Change
    in Control.

    15.  NONTRANSFERABILITY OF PURCHASE RIGHTS.

    A Purchase Right may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will
or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the
lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant.

    16.  COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW.

    The issuance of shares under the Plan shall be subject to compliance with
all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to
such securities. A Purchase Right may not be exercised if the issuance of shares
upon such exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state
or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of
any securities exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be
listed. In addition, no Purchase Right may be exercised unless (a) a
registration statement under the Securities Act of1933, as amended, shall at the
time of exercise of the Purchase Right be in effect with respect to the shares
issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Right, or (b) in the opinion of legal
counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Right
may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the
registration requirements of said Act. The inability of the Company to obtain
from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by
the Company's legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of
any shares under the Plan shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect
of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority
shall not have been obtained. As a condition to the exercise of a Purchase
Right, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications
that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable
law or regulation, and to make any representation or warranty with respect
thereto as may be requested by the Company.

                                       10
<PAGE>

    17.  RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER AND EMPLOYEE.

    A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder by virtue of the
Participant's participation in the Plan until the date of the issuance of a
certificate for the shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of the
Participant's Purchase Right (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books
of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No
adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which
the record date is prior to the date such certificate is issued, except as
provided in Section 4.2. Nothing herein shall confer upon a Participant any
right to continue in the employ of the Participating Company Group or interfere
in any way with any right of the Participating Company Group to terminate the
Participant's employment at any time.

    18.  LEGENDS.

    The Company may at any time place legends or other identifying symbols
referencing any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions
or any provision convenient in the administration of the Plan on some or all of
the certificates representing shares of Stock issued under the Plan. The
Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the
Company any and all certificates representing shares acquired pursuant to a
Purchase Right in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the
provisions of this Section.

    19.  NOTIFICATION OF SALE OF SHARES.

    The Company may require the Participant to give the Company prompt notice of
any disposition of shares acquired by exercise of a Purchase Right within two
years from the date of granting such Purchase Right or one year from the date of
exercise of such Purchase Right. The Company may require that until such time as
a Participant disposes of shares acquired upon exercise of a Purchase Right, the
Participant shall hold all such shares in the Participant's name (or, if elected
by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse but not
in the name of any nominee) until the lapse of the time periods with respect to
such Purchase Right referred to in the preceding sentence. The Company may
direct that the certificates evidencing shares acquired by exercise of a
Purchase Right refer to such requirement to give prompt notice of disposition.

    20.  NOTICES.

    All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or
in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when
received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person,
designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

    21.  INDEMNIFICATION.

    In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as
members of the Board or officers or employees of the Participating Company
Group, members of the Board and any officers or employees of the Participating
Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board or the Company is delegated
shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including
attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the
defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal
therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action
taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right
granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof
(provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by
the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action,
suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be
adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross
negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however,
that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or
proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity
at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

                                       11
<PAGE>

    22.  AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

    The Board may at any time amend or terminate the Plan, except that (a) such
termination shall not affect Purchase Rights previously granted under the Plan,
except as permitted under the Plan, provided however that the Board may
terminate the Plan (and any Offerings and future Purchase Rights) on any
Purchase Date if the Board determines that such termination is in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders; and (b) no amendment may
adversely affect a Purchase Right previously granted under the Plan (except to
the extent permitted by the Plan or as may be necessary to qualify the Plan as
an employee stock purchase plan pursuant to Section 423 of the Code or to obtain
qualification or registration of the shares of Stock under applicable federal,
state or foreign securities laws). In addition, an amendment to the Plan must be
approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months of the
adoption of such amendment if such amendment would authorize the sale of more
shares than are authorized for issuance under the Plan or would change the
definition of the corporations that may be designated by the Board as
Participating Companies. In the event that the Board approves an amendment to
increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan (the
"ADDITIONAL SHARES"), the Board, in its sole discretion, may specify that such
Additional Shares may only be issued pursuant to Purchase Rights granted after
the date on which the stockholders of the Company approve such amendment, and
such designation by the Board shall not be deemed to have adversely affected any
Purchase Right granted prior to the date on which the stockholders approve the
amendment.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that
the foregoing Invitrogen Corporation 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan was duly
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on January 15, 1999.

                                          /s/ JOSEPH M. FERNANDEZ
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Joseph M. Fernandez

PLAN HISTORY

November 20, 1998 Board adopts the Plan, with an initial reserve of 250,000
shares.

January 15, 1999   Stockholders approve Plan, with an initial reserve of 250,000
shares.

                                       12
<PAGE>

                             INVITROGEN CORPORATION
                        1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                             SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

NAME (Please print): ___________________________________________________________
                               (Last)          (First)         (Middle)

/ / Original Application for the Offering Period beginning _______, 199__.

/ / Change in Payroll Deduction rate effective with the pay period ending
_______________, 199__.

    I hereby elect to participate in the 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"PLAN") of Invitrogen Corporation (the "COMPANY") and subscribe to purchase
shares of the Company's Stock in accordance with this Subscription Agreement and
the Plan.

    I hereby authorize payroll deductions in the amount of ______ percent (in
whole percentages not less than 1% (unless an election to stop deductions is
being made) or more than 10%) of my "COMPENSATION" on each payday throughout the
"OFFERING PERIOD" in accordance with the Plan. I understand that these payroll
deductions will be accumulated for the purchase of shares of Stock at the
applicable purchase price determined in accordance with the Plan. I understand
that, except as otherwise provided by the Plan, I will automatically purchase
shares on each Purchase Date under the Plan unless I withdraw from the Plan by
giving written notice on a form provided by the Company or unless my employment
terminates.

    I understand that I will automatically participate in each subsequent
Offering that commences immediately after the last day of an Offering in which I
am participating until I withdraw from the Plan by giving written notice on a
form provided by the Company or I cease to be eligible to participate in the
Plan.

    Shares I purchase under the Plan should be issued in the name(s) set forth
below. (Shares may be issued in the participant's name alone or together with
the participant's spouse as community property or in joint tenancy.)

    NAME(S): ___________________________________________________________________

    ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________

    MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: _________________________________________________

    I agree to make adequate provision for the federal, state, local and foreign
tax withholding obligations, if any, which may arise upon my purchase of shares
under the Plan and/or my disposition of such shares. The Company may, but will
not be obligated to, withhold from my compensation the amount necessary to meet
such withholding obligations.

    I agree that while I hold shares acquired under the Plan, unless otherwise
permitted by the Company, I will hold such shares in the name(s) entered above
(and not in the name of any nominee) for at least two years from the first day
of the Offering Period in which, and at least one year from the Purchase Date on
which, I acquired such shares (this restriction only applies to the name(s) in
which shares are held and does not affect the ability to dispose of Plan
shares).

    I AGREE THAT I WILL NOTIFY THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE COMPANY IN
WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER ANY SALE, GIFT, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF
ANY KIND PRIOR TO THE END OF THE PERIODS REFERRED TO IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH
(A "DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION") OF ANY SHARES I PURCHASED UNDER THE PLAN. I
FURTHER AGREE THAT IF I DO NOT RESPOND WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DATE OF A
DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION SURVEY DELIVERED TO ME, THE COMPANY MAY TREAT MY
NONRESPONSE AS MY NOTICE TO

                                       13
<PAGE>

THE COMPANY OF A DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION AND MAY COMPUTE AND REPORT TO THE
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE THE ORDINARY INCOME I MUST RECOGNIZE UPON SUCH
DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION.

    I am familiar with the provisions of the Plan and agree to participate in
the Plan subject to all of its provisions. I understand that the Board of
Directors of the Company reserves the right to terminate the Plan or to amend
the Plan and my right to purchase stock under the Plan to the extent provided by
the Plan. I understand that the effectiveness of this Subscription Agreement is
dependent upon my eligibility to participate in the Plan.

Date: ______________ Signature: ___________________________________

                                       14
<PAGE>

                             INVITROGEN CORPORATION
                        1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                              NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL

    NAME (Please print): _______________________________________________________
                                  (Last)         (First)        (Middle)

    I hereby elect to withdraw from the Offering under Invitrogen Corporation
1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "PLAN") which began on ___________, 19___
and in which I am currently participating (the "CURRENT OFFERING").

    ELECT EITHER A OR B BELOW:

/ / A.            I elect to terminate immediately my participation in the
                  Current Offering and in the Plan.

                  I request that the Company cease all further payroll
                  deductions from my Compensation under the Plan (provided that
                  I have given sufficient notice prior to the next payday). I
                  request that all payroll deductions credited to my account
                  under the Plan (if any) not previously used to purchase shares
                  under the Plan shall not be used to purchase shares on the
                  next Purchase Date of the Current Offering. Instead, I request
                  that all such amounts be paid to me as soon as practicable. I
                  understand that this election immediately terminates my
                  interest in the Current Offering and in the Plan.

/ / B.            I elect to terminate my participation in the Current
                  Offering and in the Plan following my purchase of shares on
                  the next Purchase Date of the Current Offering.

                  I request that the Company cease all further payroll
                  deductions from my Compensation under the Plan (provided that
                  I have given sufficient notice prior to the next payday). I
                  request that all payroll deductions credited to my account
                  under the Plan (if any) not previously used to purchase shares
                  under the Plan shall be used to purchase shares on the next
                  Purchase Date of the Current Offering to the extent permitted
                  by the Plan. I understand that this election will terminate my
                  interest in the Current Offering and in the Plan immediately
                  following such purchase. I request that any cash balance
                  remaining in my account under the Plan after my purchase of
                  shares be paid to me as soon as practicable.

    I understand that by making this election I am terminating my interest in
the Plan and that no further payroll deductions will be made (provided that I
have given sufficient notice prior to the next payday) unless I elect in
accordance with the Plan to become a participant in another Offering under the
Plan by filing a new Subscription Agreement with the Company.

Date: ______________________________    Signature: _____________________________

                                       15
<PAGE>

                             FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
                             INVITROGEN CORPORATION
                        1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

    Pursuant to Section 22 of the Invitrogen Corporation 1998 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Plan"), said Plan is hereby amended as follows:

    1.  SECTION 4.1 SHALL BE AMENDED TO STATE IN ITS ENTIRETY AS FOLLOWS:

           4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to adjustment as
           provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of
           Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be three hundred fifty
           thousand (350,000) and shall consist of authorized but unissued or
           reacquired shares of Stock, or any combination thereof. If an
           outstanding Purchase Right for any reason expires or is terminated or
           canceled, the shares of Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of
           such Purchase Right shall again be available for issuance under the
           Plan.

    2. The additional 100,000 shares authorized for issuance under the Plan by
this Amendment may only be issued pursuant to Purchase Rights granted after the
date on which the stockholders of the Company approve this Amendment.
<PAGE>

                             SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE
                             INVITROGEN CORPORATION
                        1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

Pursuant to Section 22 of the Invitrogen Corporation 1998 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Plan"), said Plan is hereby amended as follows:

1.          Section 4.1 shall be amended to state in its entirety as follows:

                        4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to
            adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number
            of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be five
            hundred fifty thousand (550,000) and shall consist of authorized but
            unissued or reacquired shares of Stock, or any combination thereof.
            If an outstanding Purchase Right for any reason expires or is
            terminated or canceled, the shares of Stock allocable to the
            unexercised portion of such Purchase Right shall again be available
            for issuance under the Plan.

2. The additional 200,000 shares authorized for issuance under the Plan by this
Amendment may only be issued pursuant to Purchase Rights granted after the date
on which the stockholders of the Company approve this Amendment.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of Invitrogen Corporation
certifies that the foregoing amendment to the 1998 Stock Purchase Plan was duly
adopted by the Board of Directors on August 8, 2000.

Dated:      August 11, 2000

                                           INVITROGEN CORPORATION

                                      By:  /s/ WARNER R. BROADDUS
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Warner R. Broaddus
                                      Its:  Secretary

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