Like a microscopic (and monochromatic) version of Tetris, Merismopedia cells form square-packed colonies. These cyanobacteria, plucked from a New England salt marsh, were flooded with ultraviolet light that was later filtered out of the image to reveal a red hue produced by chlorophyll molecules inside the cells. –National Geographic Merismopedia (from the Greek merismos (division) […]

‘Mutation, at its base level, is an evolution technique for the production of potentially useful anomalies. It exists when an offspring has a genetic trait produced by a new DNA sequencing that does not exist in the parent. Unfortunately, ‘mutation’ is also one of the most debased terms within the glossary of contemporary architecture, being […]

‘Speciation is the evolutionary process by which new biological species arise. Term used to descibe the splitting of lineages or ‘cladogensis’ as opposed to ‘anagesnsis’ or ‘phyletic evolution’ occuring within lineages. Whether genetic drift is a minor or major contributor to speciation is the subject of much ongoing discussion. There are four geographic modes of […]

Branching morphogenesis – Dr Marcus Fruttiger’s lecture Branching morphogenesis – (bottom) Jenny E. Sabin General points Even though all organisms are 3 dimensional “objects” metabolic exchange processes occur over 2 dimensional surfaces. In single cell organisms the surface of the organism is sufficient for metabolic exchange with the environment. However, in bigger organisms metabolic exchange […]

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabricated as tethers using a technique known as gel spinning creates a material which is 40 times stronger than kevlar and 100 times greater strength-to-weight ratio than steel cables. By weaving together multiple layers fibrous layers of high strength polyethylene tensile strengths greater than steel are able to be […]

All you skiers and boarders, rejoice! Investigators from the Orthopedic Bioengineering Laboratory at Duke University created a 3D scaffold that one day might be impregnated with your own stem cells, in order to create new functional cartilage: Using a unique weaving machine of their design, Duke University Medical Center researchers have created a three-dimensional fabric […]

–Amin S. Ghabrial, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology Department: Cell and Developmental Biology Tubes of different sizes, shapes and cellular architectures compose most organs and glands. How these tubes are formed and what factors regulate their dimensions and their pattern of branching, are among the primary questions that must be addressed before […]

-Imagine, if you will, bioluminescent landscapes replacing our current technology of street lamps, business signs, etc. Not only is there the potential for a great reduction in energy costs and production, but the beautiful landscapes which could be created as a result of this change. To understand these creatures and the evolution that has created […]

> > -Images from Winter 2010 Exhibition at University of Michigan robotic fabrication with Wes McGee and David Pigram. Trajectories were chosen from previous research agendas started in 2009 and with the kuka 6-axis robotic arm were advanced and constructed as a 1:1 prototype. Robotic research areas from top to bottom: Polyurethane Foam Rapid Prototyping, […]

Janine Benyus delves further into the design work inspired by biology, and through the creation of AskNature.org is helping to disseminate biomimetically inspired information online (click on the top image for a link to AskNature.org).