Bacteria--Master Nanotechnologists?

The American Society of Microbiology is holding the 2nd meeting on Microbiology and Nanotechnology in San Francisco Jan 15-18, 2006. According to this press release, the conference will explore:
# Using bacteria and biotechnology to manufacture microscopic electronic devices

# Developing interfaces between biological materials and nano-structures for applications such as disease detection, monitoring and control.

# Using bacteria and other biological materials for information processing or as biomachines.

# Using nanotechnology to diagnose and treat disease

Microbiologist Robert Hamers discussed his research at UWM earlier this year with New Scientist.

Here is an image of bacteria on a pinhead, for size perspective.