Nano-urban-biology
In an interface between nanoscale biophysics and evolutionary ecology, Juan Keymer and others created microscopic environments for e. coli bacteria on a microchip. The environment consisted of tiny separate rooms, each with a small local population of e. coli. Over time, the bacteria coupled with neighboring populations, and through local extinction and colonization processes evolved into a metapopulation, which differed from the original. By creating a pattern habitat, with small differences from room to room, this method allows the creation of an adaptive landscape. So, by architecting specific challenges, like stronger UV radiation, it is possible to guide the evolution of the bacteria. This evolution happens through adaptation to large-scale, low-quality (high-stress) areas. Jaun calls this practice nano-urban-biology. Below is an image of the e. coli fighting for survival. The rooms are 200x200x20 microns in a 40x40 grid.
Bacterial metapopulations in nanofabricated landscapes, PubMedCentral.nih.gov
Can bacteria compute? AIP.org