Apparatus and method for picking biological sample

A picking instrument, comprising:

• a picking pin having a distal tip and three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions, the x, y directions constituting an x-y plane;
• a loading platform comprising a first area and a second area, the first area configured to accommodate and secure a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells;
• wherein the picking pin is operably connected to a computer, the computer including a computer program product that enables the determination of the coordinates of at least one selected microwell of the microfabricated chip on the x-y plane relative to a position of the picking pin based on a calibration of the position of the microfabricated chip relative to a position of the picking pin, and enables the picking pin to:
• move to a position above the at least one selected microwell in the plurality of the microwells of the microfabricated chip;
• pick a sample contained in the at least one selected microwell;
• move to a predetermined location at a destination sample holder;
• and
• transfer the picked sample to the predetermined location at the destination sample holder.