Greetings film Gurus (hopefully!) - I am trying to discover the identity of a sci-fi film I think saw in the mid to late 80's - but know nothing else but the story line, which was fairly profound (hence remembered - but not seen since) perhaps you may know it - story as follows:

1. Extra-T mission returns to earth (possibly from Mars) carrying alien dust samples.
2. Lab scientist analyses samples and thinks he sees evidence of micro-life
3. Lab bosses dismiss his ideas and shelve project
4. Lab Scientist steals dust sample, sets up incubation enclosure at home
5. Discovers that there is life in dust and appears to be evolving rapidly
6. Lab guy feeds the culture with various things, they begin to evolve rapidly
7. Creatures grow into visible bug like things, then evolve into variant species, some black others white (the profoundness begins)
8. The black and white 'tribes' start to wage war and kill each other
9. Lab guy punishes them by with holding food, creatures starve and cease hostilities
10. Lab guy resumes food supply, but unexpectedly, creatures use the sand they live in to build mini structures (like cathedrals) - they think lab guy is God!
11. At this stage lab guy's girlfriend interferes - he lets creatures down somehow - they escape,rebel - I think they kill him - ending is a bit hazy!

It may have been shown as a TV series - I just don't recall - any ideas??

This is from the newer series of THE OUTER LIMITS, an episode called "Sandkings" and was the first episode of the new series and released March 26, 1995 starring Beau Bridges.

Many thanks JEDI, as soon as I read your reply I recalled the details - I think my gross mis-judgement of the time frame meant I would never have identified this - cheers!

Another Outer Limits episode with a similar theme was broadcast on November 7, 1964 entitled "Wolf 359" where a scientist attempts to repulicate the conditions of another world in a laboratory with dangerous consequences. Though dated and perhaps not quite as deep, the episode provides an example of how sci fi themes were developing at an even earlier age (more than 30 years ago).