<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM INVITROGEN'S
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000             SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                         689,787                  38,319
<SECURITIES>                                    24,890                     809
<RECEIVABLES>                                  108,196                  11,826
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,609                     350
<INVENTORY>                                    101,934                   6,780
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               957,981                  61,251
<PP&E>                                         181,863                  35,013
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,788                  13,022
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,735,080                  87,888
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        2,066,809                  19,160
<BONDS>                                        172,500                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           240                     196
<OTHER-SE>                                     205,795                  61,416
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,735,080                  87,888
<SALES>                                        101,542                  67,787
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               102,972                  69,050
<CGS>                                           41,803                  25,312
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   41,803                  25,312
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                62,710                  36,572
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,369                     763
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,299                   7,454
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,892                   2,782
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (2,653)                   4,672
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (2,653)                   4,672
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.11)                  (0.29)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.11)                  (0.26)