Illumina licenses Orchid Cellmark DNA technology

San Diego’s Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker: ILMN]]) has licensed worldwide rights to commercially develop Orchid Cellmark’s proprietary single base nucleotide extension technology for forensics and diagnostics. Princeton, N.J.-based Orchid (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ORCH]]) is one of the largest providers of forensic DNA testing services used by the criminal justice system. Orchid says Illumina agreed to pay $850,000 upfront and up to $150,000 in milestone payments. Although Orchid retains the right to use its patents, Illumina received exclusive rights to sublicense the technology. Orchid will receive royalties on any such deals.