Using Microfluidics to Capture Molecular Microbiology in a Changing World

For over a century, biologists have used test tubes and petri dishes to investigate life. By studying bacteria in laboratory conditions, generations of scientists have amassed a wealth of biological knowledge. However, simple experimental systems remove complexity, leading us to question how our knowledge translates to the natural world. Approaches combining microfluidics and molecular biology have made rapid progress, filling this gap by reintroducing experimental complexity. In our review, we highlight how microfluidics has shifted and enhanced our understanding of several core molecular microbiology processes. In Section 1, we follow the journey of bacterial cells as they colonize surfaces, emphasizing that this is not a linear process. In Section 2, we explore how the interplay of physical, chemical, and biological features impacts surface-attached communities. Along the way, we highlight how using microfluidics captures bacterial behavior that classical approaches overlook, often revealing unexpected and counterintuitive outcomes.