Method and apparatus for encoding cellular spatial position information

A device for the analysis of a biological sample, the device comprising:

• a sample module configured to extract microsamples from a biological specimen;
• and
• a recipient module configured to receive the microsample biological specimen from the sample module for analysis.

A device comprising:

• an element selected from a membrane, filter, surface, capillary, microchannel, device, and microfabricated chip;
• and
• means to bring the element into direct contact or close proximity to a biological specimen for the purpose of labeling or extracting a plurality of microsamples in an order based on their original spatial position within the biological specimen.

A system comprising:

• a stage for supporting a biological specimen;
• a device comprising an array of markers comprised in beads, surfaces, flat or microfabricated structures;
• means for transferring the array of markers into or onto the biological specimen at predetermined spatial positions.

A method comprising:

• adding, to each of a plurality of different microsamples from a biological specimen, a marker comprising spatial information that encodes the original spatial position of the microsample within the biological specimen.

A system having a graphical user interface that presents, based on spatial information obtained from microsamples of a biological specimen, a graphical representation of the biological specimen including original spatial position of a plurality of polynucleotides or polypeptides in the biological specimen.

A method comprising entraining in a fluidic stream a plurality of microsamples from a biological specimen, wherein the microsamples are contained in spatially separated microdrops in the fluidic stream and positioned in an order based on their original spatial position within the biological specimen.