Abstract: A handheld solid sample pipette device includes a pipette tube with a number of sharpened teeth adapted to pierce solid or substantially solid sample material, the pipette tube adapted to be matingly attached to a device that includes a handle, a plunger, and a piston within a shell of the device. A spring may be positioned to return the plunger to a non-depressed position following depression of the plunger. A sample of the material can be ejected from the handheld device. The handheld device may further include a shear ring apparatus, that in-turn includes a tube portion, a plurality of shear ring teeth, and a knobbed plate for rotating the shear ring. Following insertion of the pipette with sharpened teeth into the sample, the shear ring apparatus is pressed into the sample as well, such that the shear ring tube, which is slidingly engaged about the pipette tube, slides over the pipette tube into the sample.

Abstract: Aspects of the embodiments use nucleic acid sequence (NS) based barcodes (NS tracking barcodes) in different capacities to track, trace, monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot complex biological, chemical, and biochemical processes. At least two forms of the NS tracking barcodes are described herein: ported NS tracking barcodes and process NS tracking barcodes. Ported NS tracking barcodes are designed such that they will not be modified during the process, and their sequence can indicate time or location of manufacture information, as well as an indication of success of a DNA processing step. Process NS tracking barcodes can be more complicated than the ported NS tracking barcodes, as they can be modified during the course of DNA processing, so that they can provide specific information regarding whether a desired nucleic acid process or reaction worked or did not. Process NS tracking barcodes can be synthesized such that they can used as a substrate for the reaction and get modified.