Abstract: The present invention features a multi-bladed cutter and a cradle adapted to grip a tissue sample 10 during cutting. The cutter has a series 4 of juxtaposed blades 5 and the cradle has a series of slits 13 adapted to receive the blades during cutting. The cradle may have opposing curved walls 8,9 which may be brought together to clasp the sample. The apparatus is suitable for cutting tissue such as prostate tissue, which is difficult to section. The apparatus is particularly suited to cutting tissue where chemical fixing is undesirable because nucleic acids are to be sampled from the tissue.