We describe a new technique for determining the tensile properties of biological tissues at the
mesoscale. The procedure uses a calibrated magnetic interaction between a steel bead attached to
the sample and a permanent magnet to apply a uniaxial tensile force, along with a simple video
assay to monitor the sample extension and thus the strain. Our method fills a significant gap in
the accessible range of both forces and strains and is useful for forces in the micro and milliNewton range, and displacements in the range of hundreds of microns with strains of up to 200%.
We give two examples of the mechanical characterization of tissues using our technique,
employing it to characterize the elastic modulus of tubular and membraneous embryonic tissues
from the chick.