EXHIBIT 23.1

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Lynx Therapeutics,
Inc. for the registration of 540,058 shares of its common stock and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our report dated February 20, 2004 (except
for paragraph 2 of Business and Basis of Presentation in Note 1, as to which the
date is March 10, 2004), with respect to the consolidated financial statements
of Lynx Therapeutics, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the
year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                                        /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Palo Alto, California
April 1, 2004