<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-09-17</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001001233</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SGMO</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264949</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZANTE GREG</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES, INC STE-A-100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>POINT RICHMOND TECH, 501 CANAL BLVD,</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94804</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>Sr Dir., Finance and Admin.</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>3.00</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-08-17</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>20000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Option is immediately exercisable, subject to repurchase of the option shares by the Issuer at the exercise price prior to full vesting.  the repurchase right lapses, and the options vest, as follows:  (i) 25% of the option shares on August 18, 2004, and (ii) the remaining shares vest in a series of successive monthly installments over the remaining 36 months thereafter. </footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Greg Zante</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-09-29</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

