Exhibit 99.1

Sangamo BioSciences Announces Research Collaboration With LifeScan to Develop
                            Treatment for Diabetes

           First ZFP Therapeutics Program in Regenerative Medicine

    RICHMOND, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sangamo BioSciences,
Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with
LifeScan, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company and a leading manufacturer of
blood glucose meters, that provides LifeScan with Sangamo's proprietary zinc
finger DNA binding proteins (ZFPs) for use in a program to develop therapeutic
cell lines as a potential treatment for diabetes. The financial terms of the
agreement were not disclosed.

    "LifeScan Inc. is a world leader in blood glucose monitoring and diabetes
management and we are pleased to be able to provide them with ZFP TFs to aid
in the development of this new therapeutic approach," said Edward Lanphier,
Sangamo's president and chief executive officer. "This program also represents
Sangamo's first collaboration in the important field of regenerative
medicine."

    Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not make, or does not
properly regulate the hormone insulin. Insulin helps the body to store and use
the energy from sugar, starches and other foods. The result is that the body
doesn't get the energy it needs, and unmetabolized sugar (glucose), builds up
in the blood causing damage to the body and its systems.  An estimated 18.2
million Americans, or about 3 percent of the US population, have diabetes.
About 13 million Americans have been diagnosed; about 5.2 million remain
undiagnosed. Annually, 1.3 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed among
people 20 years or older in the United States.

    About Sangamo

    Sangamo BioSciences, Inc is focused on the research and development of
novel DNA-binding proteins for therapeutic gene regulation and repair. The
company's most advanced therapeutic development program, currently in a Phase
I clinical trial, involves the use of transcription factors for the treatment
of peripheral artery disease. Other therapeutic development programs are
focused on diabetic neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart
failure, cancer, neuropathic pain, and infectious and monogenic diseases.
Sangamo's core competencies enable the engineering of a class of DNA-binding
proteins known as zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs). By engineering ZFPs
that recognize a specific DNA sequence Sangamo has created ZFP transcription
factors (ZFP TFs) that can control gene expression and, consequently, cell
function. Sangamo is also developing sequence-specific ZFP-Nucleases (ZFNs)
for therapeutic gene modification as a treatment and possible cure for a
variety of monogenic diseases such as sickle cell anemia and for infectious
diseases such as HIV. For more information about Sangamo, visit the company's
web site at www.sangamo.com or www.expressinglife.com

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Sangamo's current expectations. These forward-looking statements include,
without limitation, references to the research and development of novel ZFPs
and applications of Sangamo's ZFP technology platform. Actual results may
differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to a number of
factors, including technological challenges, Sangamo's ability to develop
commercially viable products and technological developments by our
competitors. See the company's SEC filings, and in particular, the risk
factors described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its most
recent 10-Q. Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. assume no obligation to update the
forward-looking information contained in this press release.

SOURCE  Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.
    -0-                             09/30/2004
    /CONTACT:  Elizabeth Wolffe, Ph.D. of Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.,
+1-510-970-6000, ext. 271, or Ewolffe@sangamo.com; or Kathy Jones-Nugent
(media), or John Nugent (investors), both of Burns McClellan, Inc.,
+1-212-213-0006, for Sangamo BioSciences, Inc./
    /Web site:  http://www.expressinglife.com /
    /Web site:  http://www.sangamo.com /
    (SGMO)

CO:  Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.; LifeScan, Inc.; Johnson & Johnson
ST:  California
IN:  BIO HEA MTC
SU:  CON