Abstract
The discipline called biomimetics attempts to create synthetic systems that model the behavior and functions of biological systems. At a very basic level, this approach incorporates a philosophy grounded in modeling either the behavior or properties of organic systems based on inferences of structure–function relationships. This approach has achieved extraordinary scientific accomplishments, both in fabricating new materials and structures. However, it is also prone to misstep because (1) many organic structures are multifunctional that have reconciled conflicting individual functional demands (rather than maximize the performance of any one task) over evolutionary time, and (2) some structures are ancillary or entirely superfluous to the functions their associated systems perform. The important point is that we must typically infer function from structure, and that is not always easy to do even when behavioral characteristics are available (e.g., the delivery of venom by the fangs of a snake, or cytoplasmic toxins by the leaf hairs of the stinging nettle). Here, we discuss both of these potential pitfalls by comparing and contrasting how engineered and organic systems are operationally analyzed. We also address the challenges that emerge when an organic system is modeled and suggest a few methods to evaluate the validity of models in general.
Highlights
Attempts to model or emulate organic structure–function relationships often rely on the fact that the physiological and structural requirements for growth, survival, and reproductive success are remarkably similar for the majority of extant as well as extinct organisms regardless of their phyletic affiliation, even at the molecular level [1,2,3,4,5]
The interest in modeling organic structure–function relationships has expanded perhaps most aggressively in the field of biomechanics and subsequently into biomimetics—an interdisciplinary discipline in which researchers apply the principles of physics, engineering, chemistry, mathematics, and biology to create synthetic inorganic systems or materials that mimic the functions of biological systems, materials, or processes [3,4,14,15]
Almost every organic system can be viewed as the result of a series of evolutionary ‘experiments’ whose continued success reflects the consequences of intense scrutiny [9]
Summary
Attempts to model or emulate organic structure–function relationships often rely on the fact that the physiological and structural requirements for growth, survival, and reproductive success are remarkably similar for the majority of extant as well as extinct organisms regardless of their phyletic affiliation, even at the molecular level [1,2,3,4,5]. The interest in modeling organic structure–function relationships has expanded perhaps most aggressively in the field of biomechanics and subsequently into biomimetics—an interdisciplinary discipline in which researchers apply the principles of physics, engineering, chemistry, mathematics, and biology to create synthetic inorganic systems or materials that mimic the functions of biological systems, materials, or processes [3,4,14,15] This approach has resulted in significant progress in both its theoretical and practical applications. Extracting insights from these ‘experiments’ and mimicking the attributes of organic systems presents a number of challenges not least of which is the assumption that structure–function relationships can be inferred correctly and unambiguously By their very nature (as well as their specific epithets), the fields of biomechanics and biomimetics rely heavily on the principles and theoretical insights gained from the application of engineering and physics to analyze biological system in terms that differ in many important ways from those that emerge directly from the study of biological systems. We discuss the types of models that are typically used in science, compare and contrast the approaches taken in the physical and biological sciences, and suggest criteria that can be used to assess engineering and biological models in general
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