Applied DNA Sciences Validates Use of SigNature DNA in Laminates Used in Government Identification Cards and Other Secure Documents

Protecting secure documents against alteration and counterfeiting has become a priority of governments around the world. The REAL ID Act is U.S. Federal law that imposes certain security, authentication, and issuance procedure standards for the state driver's licenses and state ID cards, for them to be accepted by the Federal government for "official purposes."

According to the Real ID Act, DNA is accepted as one of the biometric identifiers along with fingerprints and retinal scans. For example, SigNature DNA can be incorporated as part of a security ink that is embedded into the laminate of a driver's license.

Incorporating SigNature DNA into the existing inks and printing processes safeguards the driver's license at a forensic level and ensures that the license can not be copied or re-engineered. DNA protection also offers each State their own unique DNA identifier that can be authenticated even 10 years from the date the license was issued. The strength of DNA authentication has already been demonstrated by law enforcement in the United States and is accepted internationally as forensic evidence should a criminal or civil case be prosecuted.

Raising the security systems standards of state-issued identification is an important step toward enhancing national security. Because a driver's license serves so many purposes (access to federal buildings, nuclear power plants, boarding aircraft, etc.), terrorists actively seek fraudulent state-issued identification. The REAL ID rules will make it more difficult for them, while making it easier for law enforcement to detect falsified documents. The Department of Homeland Security has provided States with an extension to comply by December 31, 2009. In addition, States that meet certain benchmarks for the security of their credentials and licensing processes will automatically be granted a second extension until May 11, 2011 to complete full implementation of REAL ID.

In addition to driver's licenses, DNA in laminated materials can be used to protect credit cards, passports and immigration visas. APDN continues to work with Printcolor Screen AG, a Swiss-based security ink company, to offer its SigNature DNA markers in high security, high value items that require a botanical forensic marker. As recently reported, SigNature DNA offers a scalable and affordable solution that can be incorporated into intaglio inks, cyanoacrylates, thermal transfer ribbons, adhesives and inkjet inks.

About APDN

APDN sells patented DNA security solutions to protect products, brands and intellectual property from counterfeiting and diversion. SigNature DNA is a botanical mark used to authenticate products in a unique manner that essentially cannot be copied. APDN also provides BioMaterial GenoTyping(TM) by detecting genomic DNA in natural materials to authenticate finished products. Both technologies protect brands and products in a wide range of industries and provide a forensic chain of evidence that can be used to prosecute perpetrators.

The statements made by APDN 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 APDN'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 APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to our short operating history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, market competition and various other factors detailed from time to time in APDN's SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on December 16, 2008 and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. APDN 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.