Figure 5.

Experimental tools enable engineering of microbial ecosystems from the population level down to the DNA level. In vitro tools such microfluidics and microchambers or in vivo mice models enable precise control of the environment. High-throughput sequencing and transcriptomics enable parallel interrogation of phylogeny, composition, and gene expression of cell populations. Techniques such as multiplexed genome engineering and transposon mutagenesis enable forward engineering and accelerated evolution of cell populations at the genetic level. New genetic circuitry and synthetic biology frameworks enable the development of multi-component genetic programs that are executed across populations of cells.