Disclosed is a nucleic acid sampling apparatus comprising a probe for supporting a nucleic acid sample； and a manipulator that is attachable to the probe such as to permit manoeuvring of the probe, the probe being separable from the manipulator wherein the probe includes a plurality of probe elements that are moveable one relative to another between contiguous and mutually spaced configurations, each probe element including a tip part that when the probe elements adopt their contiguous configuration combines with the other tip parts to define a composite tip that is capable of contacting nucleic acid for the purpose of conveying a sample thereof.
