Exhibit 5.1
                [KUMMER KAEMPFER BONNER AND RENSHAW LETTERHEAD]




                                 June 13, 2002



HYSEQ, INC.
670 Almanor Avenue
Sunnyvale, California  94085

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as special Nevada counsel for Hyseq, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the Registration Statement on
Form S-3 ("Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission covering the offer and sale of 6,948,454
shares of the Company's common stock, $0.001 par value per share ("Common
Stock"), including (a) 3,741,932 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the
selling stockholders named in the Registration Statement, (b) 1,031,447 shares
of Common Stock that may be issued upon the exercise of Common Stock warrants,
and (c) 2,175,075 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exchange of a
promissory note issued by the Company for an aggregate principal amount of
$4,000,000, plus interest.

         In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied on the following
documents: (i) the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws,
as amended, (ii) the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Company on October 23, 2001, and March 29, 2002 (iii) the Registration
Statement, and (iv) such other documents, legal opinions and precedents,
corporate and other records of the Company, and certificates of public officials
and officers of the Company that we have deemed necessary or appropriate to
provide a basis for the opinion.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, in our opinion, the shares of
Common Stock of the Company (i) which are being offered and sold by the selling
stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, when sold by
the selling stockholders in the manner contemplated by the Registration
Statement, (ii) issuable upon exercise of the warrants upon payment of the
consideration stated in such warrants, and (iii) issuable upon the exchange of a
promissory note issued by the Company for an aggregate principal amount of
$4,000,000, plus interest, in each case, will be legally issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

         We consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw

                                            KUMMER KAEMPFER BONNER & RENSHAW