Applied DNA Sciences' Security Access System Wins Best of Show Innovation and Product Achievement Awards at the Security Industry Association's National Summit on Security.

Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2003

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB: APDN), a provider of proprietary DNA-embedded security products and services that protect corporate and intellectual property from counterfeiting and fraud, today announced that its Applied DNA(TM) Security Access System received the Best of Show Innovation award from the Security Industry Association (SIA) in the organization's New Product Showcase at the 2003 National Summit on Security currently being held in Washington D.C. The company was also honored with the Product Achievement Award for Access Control.

The anti-counterfeit Applied DNA Security Access System is a state-of-the-art biotechnology system comprised of the Applied DNA(TM) Chip and the Applied DNA(TM) Access Control Chip Reader. Combinations of plant DNA are embedded into a non-silicon based microchip (Applied DNA(TM) Chip) using a proprietary technique. The Security Access System is secure, versatile and uses credit card type media for use with a slot reader or contact point system for instant authentication. The security access system controls and prevents individual and corporate identity theft and unauthorized intrusion.

The Best of Show Innovation Award is the National Summit on Security's top honor. This award, as well as the Product Achievement in Access Control, is bestowed on the product that offers true innovation and satisfies a customer need not currently met by an existing industry product.

Twenty-one new products and services were entered into this program, which was established more than a decade ago to identify and showcase innovation in electronic security products and services. The final round of NPS judging took place on Wednesday October 1, 2003 at the Washington D.C. Convention Center. Six judges, representing various segments of the industry, viewed presentations by entrant marketing, sales or technology representatives. SIA's Executive Director Richard Chace and SIA's incoming President Joe Grillo, HID Corporation, presented the awards.

"This is our first year at this premiere industry event and we are proud to be the recipient of these prestigious awards from the Security Industry Association," said Larry Lee, chief executive officer of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. "Our DNA-embedded security access technology has been recognized by the judges as a new innovative technology for security solutions. We believe that this technology could have significant impact on homeland security."

Applied DNA Sciences is able to isolate and combine unique sequences of DNA codes that become a fingerprint or traceable marking for any product. This fingerprint is virtually impossible to replicate. A key to this exclusive biotechnology is the ability to embed and/or apply combinations of plant DNA to patented products and applications. The company's proprietary production techniques have overcome the technical obstacles to stabilizing this DNA for up to a hundred years. The unique characteristics and combinations of these DNA sequences are used as tools to differentiate and verify product authenticity.

SIA's New Product Showcase is an internationally recognized promotion and awards program, which is held twice each year at the International Security Conference (ISC) EXPO West and at the National Summit on Security (NSS), previously ISC East. Designers and manufacturers of electronic security products, peripherals and services are invited to submit their newest products and services for this industry-wide, nationally-recognized competition.

An International Security Conference (ISC) event, The National Summit on Security is produced by Reed Exhibitions and sponsored by the Washington D.C.-based Security Industry Association (SIA) and endorsed by the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA). The National Summit on Security is part of Reed Exhibitions' portfolio of security events including the upcoming ISC West in 2004 in Las Vegas.

About Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. provides proprietary DNA-embedded biotechnology security products and services, using plant DNA, that verify authenticity and protect corporate and government agencies from counterfeiting, fraud, piracy, product diversion, identity theft and unauthorized intrusion. Applied DNA Sciences has an exclusive licensing and partnership agreement covering North America and Europe with Biowell Technology, Inc. (http://www.biowell.com.tw/eng) of Taiwan. The company develops, markets, and sub-licenses DNA security systems, supply-chain management systems and anti-counterfeit solutions. Applied DNA Sciences' technology addresses the more than $350 billion of counterfeit products sold each year, as well as the multi-billion dollar homeland security market. The company is headquartered at 9255 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90069; Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone] or visit www.ADNAS.com.

The statements made by Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (the Company) may be forward-looking in nature and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe the Company's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to changes in interest rates, market competition, changes in the local and national economies, and various other factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.