Celera Genomics was founded in 1998 as a joint venture between The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and Perkin-Elmer Corporation. Its goal was to sequence human genome more quickly than the Human Genome Project effort using the “shotgun” sequencing method. In 1999, it acquired 49 percent of Agrogene, and in 2000, 47.5 percent of Shanghai GeneCore BioTechnologies. In 1999, it became one of two groups of Applera, which emerged from the Life Sciences Division of Perkin-Elmer. In 2008, Applera spun off Celera Genomics as an independent company. In 2011, it was acquired by Quest Diagnostics.