<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-03-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001003113</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MOLECULAR DEVICES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MDCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001231183</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARKNESS TIMOTHY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1311 ORLEANS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94089</rptOwnerZipCode>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO/VP Finance</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.8500</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-03-26</value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12500.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.6600</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-03-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-11</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35000.00</value>
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                <transactionShares>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-16</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-16</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value></value>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
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                <value>29.4500</value>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-02-10</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-09</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 28, 2007, among MDS Inc., Molecular Devices Corporation (&quot;MDC&quot;) and Monument Acquisition Corp., each option outstanding immediately prior to 4:01 p.m. EDT on March 26, 2007 (the &quot;Effective Time&quot;) was accelerated in full and was canceled as of the Effective Time and thereafter represents the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of the number of shares of common stock of MDC subject to such option multiplied by the amount by which $35.50 exceeds the exercise price per share subject to such option.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Harkness, Timothy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
