SAN DIEGO-- Diversa Corporation (Nasdaq: DVSA) today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,280,926, covering the discovery of enzymes from gene libraries derived from mixed populations of eukaryotic organisms, such as fungi, plants, and insects and prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and archaea. This patent is the latest addition to Diversa's extensive patent estate covering the screening of gene products in a variety of hosts, including both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. The issuance of this patent brings Diversa's worldwide patent estate to 52 issued patents and over 200 additional pending patents.

Diversa Corporation is a global leader in developing and applying proprietary technologies to discover and evolve novel genes and gene pathways from diverse sources. The Company is utilizing its fully integrated approach to develop novel enzymes and other biologically active compounds, such as orally active drugs, produced by these genes and gene pathways.

The Company's proprietary evolution technologies facilitate the optimization of genes to develop products for the pharmaceutical, agricultural, chemical processing, and industrial markets.  Within these broad markets, the Company is targeting key multi-billion dollar market segments where the Company believes its technologies and products will create high value and competitive advantages for strategic partners and customers. The Company's strategic partners are market leaders and include Aventis Animal Nutrition S.A., Celanese Ltd., Celera Genomics, The Dow Chemical Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Invitrogen Corporation, and Syngenta Agribusiness Biotechnology Research, Inc. The Company has also formed joint ventures with The Dow Chemical Company (named Innovase LLC) and with Syngenta Seeds AG (named Zymetrics, Inc.). Additional information is available at Diversa's website: www.diversa.com

For further information please contact Hillary Theakston, Investor Relations of Diversa Corporation, +1-858-526-5121; or Virginia Amann of Atkins & Associates, +1-858-860-0266, for Diversa