Parallel multi-step bio-reaction system and method

A parallel multi-step bio-reaction system, comprising:

• (a) a substrate arrangement comprising a plurality of bio-reaction substrate holders configured to hold a plurality of bio-reaction substrates;
• (b) a well arrangement comprising a plurality of fluidic wells, the fluidic wells corresponding to a plurality of steps of a multi-step bio-reaction;
• (c) an actuator configured to:
• (i) move either the substrate arrangement or the well arrangement relative to the other of the substrate arrangement or the well arrangement to change the alignment of the bio-reaction substrates as a group relative to the fluidic wells as a group;
• and
• (ii) bring the bio-reaction substrates into and out of contact with fluids in the fluidic wells;
• and
• (d) a fluidic replacement sub-system configured to replace fluids in the fluidic wells.

A method of performing a multi-step bio-reaction, comprising:

• (a) positioning a plurality of bio-reaction substrates in a multi-step bio-reaction system, the plurality of bio-reaction substrates comprising a bio-reaction substrate arrangement, the multi-step bio-reaction system comprising a plurality of fluidic wells in a well arrangement;
• (b) positioning the bio-reaction substrate arrangement in a first alignment relative to the well arrangement;
• (c) while the bio-reaction substrate arrangement is in the first alignment relative to the well arrangement, exposing the plurality of bio-reaction substrates to a plurality of fluid reagents in the plurality of fluidic wells;
• (d) removing the plurality of bio-reaction substrates from the plurality of fluid reagents;
• (e) moving either the substrate arrangement or the well arrangement relative to the other of the substrate arrangement or the well arrangement to change the alignment of the bio-reaction substrates as a group relative to the fluidic wells as a group to a second alignment;
• and
• (f) while the bio-reaction substrate arrangement is in the second alignment relative to the well arrangement, exposing the plurality of bio-reaction substrates to the plurality of fluid reagents, at least some of the fluid reagents each corresponding to a step of the multi-step bio-reaction.