1
                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement of Dexter Corporation on Form S - 8 (File No. 333 - 42663) of our
report dated May 15, 2000, relating to the financial statements of Dexter
Magnetic's Employee Retirement Income Trust Plan as of December 31, 1999 and
1998, and for the years then ended, which appears in this Form 11 - K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
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    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Hartford, Connecticut
June 27, 2000