FREDRIKSON & BYRON, P.A.
                             900 Second Avenue South
                          Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

                            Telephone: (612) 347-7000
                            Facsimile: (612) 347-7077


                                 October 1, 1998


Techne Corporation
614 McKinley Place N.E.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413

         Re:      EXHIBIT 5.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies/Gentlemen:

         We are acting as corporate counsel to Techne Corporation (the
"Company") in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") of 987,206
shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "shares") to be sold by a shareholder
(the "selling shareholder").

         In acting as such counsel and for the purpose of rendering this
opinion, we have reviewed copies of the following, as presented to us by the
Company:

         1.       The Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended;

         2.       The Company's Bylaws, as amended;

         3.       Certain corporate resolutions of the Company's Board of
                  Directors pertaining to the issuance by the Company of the
                  shares; and

         4.       The Registration Statement.

         Based on, and subject to, the foregoing and upon representations and
information provided by the Company or its officers or directors, it is our
opinion as of this date that:

         1. The shares are validly authorized by the Company's Articles of
Incorporation.

         2. The shares to be sold by the selling shareholder have been duly
authorized and issued and, when sold as contemplated by the Registration
Statement, will be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       FREDRIKSON & BYRON, P.A.


                                       By /s/ Timothy M. Heaney
                                          Timothy M. Heaney, Vice President