National Security Expert Stephen Rossetti Joins Board of Advisors of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2003

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB:APDN):

-- Biotechnology company specializing in DNA-embedded solutions

appoints expert in government information technology and

federal acquisition practices who has been instrumental in

crafting major legislation on national security matters

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB:APDN), a provider of proprietary DNA-embedded biotechnology solutions that protect corporate and government intellectual property from counterfeiting and fraud, today announced that Stephen Rossetti has joined its Board of Advisors as of November of 2002. With extensive experience at federal levels in both legislative and executive branches of government, Rossetti has been instrumental in crafting major legislation on national security matters. He has a broad knowledge of interagency policy development, and federal financing and legislative processes.

Rossetti spent ten years on the staff of the House Armed Services Committee working with readiness and infrastructure issues including special operations forces, general-purpose force preparedness, National Guard and Reserve preparedness, information technology oversight and reform, chemical and biological weapons preparedness and response, and missions other than war, such as counter-drug and counter-terror. Following service on the committee, Rossetti moved to the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he was in charge of business process reform.

Rossetti is presently chairman and chief executive officer of Consumer Direct-Link, a high security company and provider of a pervasive computing that combines encryption, smart card biometric identification capabilities, and wireless through PDAs and other devices. In addition, he serves as president of Markquest, a Washington D.C.-based consulting practice with emphasis on Homeland and national security and technology issues. Rossetti works with the U.S. Congress, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and several federal agencies including the Departments of Justice, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Interior, and Agriculture.

"Since Homeland Security is projected to drive the government's biggest five-year plan for technology spending, we believe that Steve Rossetti's connection to the federal sector will bring invaluable guidance to our company in identifying applications for our technology within the government sector," said Larry Lee, president of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. "As the world is experiencing estimated losses of up to $1 trillion dollars annually, due to counterfeiting, the need for secure identification systems is critical. Our award-winning biotechnology helps identify, deter and dismantle various global counterfeiting organizations."

"The capabilities of Applied DNA Sciences have enormous potential to assist governments in providing an added level of authentication and security at this highly sensitive and critical time," Rossetti said. "ADNAS can also assist the U.S. and other governments in providing valuable protection of property rights, thereby promoting commerce, enhancing free trade, and forging a working partnership with government and the private sector to assure product integrity while protecting vital revenue sources."

About Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (ADNAS)

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB:APDN) provides proprietary DNA-embedded biotechnology solutions that confirm authenticity and protect corporate and government agencies from counterfeiting, fraud, piracy, product diversion, and unauthorized intrusion. ADNAS has an exclusive licensing and partnership agreement covering North America and Europe with Biowell Technology, Inc. (http://www.biowell.com.tw/eng/home.htm) of Taiwan. The company provides sales, marketing, and sub-licensing of the DNA products, which are accompanied by monitoring and enforcement support to identify, deter, and apprehend global counterfeiting organizations.

ADNAS' patented technology addresses the more than $350 billion of counterfeit products sold globally each year. Corporations spend approximately $6 billion annually on anti-counterfeit and anti-fraud solutions. DNA tagging provides an extremely high counterfeit barrier, because the unique DNA sequence that identifies a tagged object is virtually impossible for a counterfeiter to replicate. Industries benefiting from ADNAS solutions include: corporations, federal government, information technology, security and surveillance, entertainment, the arts, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, biometrics, and vertical retail markets.

The company is headquartered at 9255 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069; Tel: [phone]DNA (1362); 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.