Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT

            I, Terry K. Glenn, President of Merrill Lynch Series Fund, Inc. (the
            "Fund"), certify that:

                  1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with
                        the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

                  2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents,
                        in all material respects, the financial condition and
                        results of operations of the Fund.



           Dated: February 23, 2004





                                                /s/ Terry K. Glenn
                                                ------------------
                                                Terry K. Glenn,
                                                President of
                                                Merrill Lynch Series Fund, Inc.



            A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906,
            or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise
            adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the
            electronic version of this written statement required by Section
            906, has been provided to Merrill Lynch Series Fund, Inc. and will
            be retained by Merrill Lynch Series Fund, Inc. and furnished to the
            Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.







Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT

      I, Donald C. Burke, Chief Financial Officer of Merrill Lynch Series Fund,
      Inc. (the "Fund"), certify that:

            1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
                  requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934; and

            2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Fund.



       Dated: February 23, 2004





                                              /s/ Donald C. Burke
                                              -------------------
                                              Donald C. Burke,
                                              Chief Financial Officer of
                                              Merrill Lynch Series Fund, Inc.



      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or
      other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the
      signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this
      written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Merrill
      Lynch Series Fund, Inc. and will be retained by Merrill Lynch Series Fund,
      Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff
      upon request.