FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * KACIAN DANIEL L   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol GEN PROBE INC [GPRO] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Exec. VP, Chief Scientist (Last) (First) (Middle) GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, 10210 GENETIC CENTER DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/04/2010 (Street) SAN DIEGO, CA 92121 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/04/2010   M   24,251 A $ 12.29 61,015 D   Common Stock 01/04/2010   M   36,749 A $ 13.655 97,764 D   Common Stock 01/04/2010   M   70,000 A $ 29.525 167,764 D   Common Stock 01/04/2010   S(1)   88,928 A $ 43.0136 (2) 78,836 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 12.29

01/04/2010

M

9,544

(3)

09/01/2011

Common Stock

9,544

$ 0

0

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 12.29

01/04/2010

M

14,707

(4)

06/01/2012

Common Stock

14,707

$ 0

0

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 13.655

01/04/2010

M

36,749

(5)

08/17/2010

Common Stock

36,749

$ 0

0

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 29.525

01/04/2010

M

70,000

(6)

08/15/2013

Common Stock

70,000

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
KACIAN DANIEL L GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED 10210 GENETIC CENTER DRIVE SAN DIEGO, CA 92121			Exec. VP, Chief Scientist

Signatures

/s/ R. William Bowen, Attorney-in-Fact		01/06/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The exercise of options to purchase an aggregate of 88,928 shares of common stock of the issuer and the sale of such shares of common stock were in each case effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on September 18, 2009.
(2)	This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $42.78 to $43.26. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price for these transactions. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the reported transactions were effected.
(3)	The stock option became fully vested and exercisable as of September 1, 2005.
(4)	The stock option became fully vested and exercisable as of June 1, 2006.
(5)	The stock option became fully vested and exercisable as of August 17, 2004.
(6)	The stock option became fully vested and exercisable as of August 15, 2007.

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