Exhibit 23.(b) Berenson & Company LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS 135 West 50th Street New York, NY 10020 212 977.6800 FAX: 212 245.3808 212 245.7098 Consent of Independent Auditors We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form S-8 pertaining to the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan of IGENE Biotechnology, Inc., of our report dated February 23, 2001 (except for Note 20, as to which the date is March 27, 2001), with respect to the consolidated financial statements of IGENE Biotechnology, Inc. and Subsidiary included in the annual report (Form 10-KSB) of IGENE Biotechnology, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2000. /s/ Berenson & Company LLP New York, NY December 17, 2001