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acting in different scheme than the living systems
to perform the same functions. Bio-derivation
means incorporation of biomaterials into human-
made structures. The National Research Council
provided examples of these three strategies:
carbon dioxide and water) are examples of
biological structures and processes that can
support harvesting light and also fuels (by
converting cellulose polymer to ethanol).
Deciphering force and motions in proteins
driven by sub-cellular, molecular motors can
advance clinical diagnostics, prosthetics, and
drug delivery. Molecular motors convert
chemical energy (usually in form of ATP
- adenosine triphosphate) into mechanical
energy. Contrary to Brownian movements,
they are not driven solely by thermal effects.
Scientists strive to create self-evolving, self-
healing, self-cleaning, and self-replicating
super-materials that could mimic the abil-
ity to evolve and adapt. The challenge is
not easy to meet: for example, the gecko's
adhesive works like a glue in vacuum and
under water, leaves no residue, and is self-
cleaning; adhesion is reversible, so geckoes
alternatively stick and unstuck themselves
15 times per second as they run up walls. As
for now, “all attempts to mimic their design
or to synthesize artificial polymers that are
analogous to the bioadhesives in structure or
function have been largely unsuccessful …
and the magic of a gecko's “dry” glue with
its reversible attachments remains unsolved,
unmatched, and more challenging than ever”
(National Research, 2008, pp. 63-64).
1.
Bio-Mimicry:
Learning the principles used
by a living system to achieve similar function
in synthetic material and also create materials
that mimic cells in their response to external
stimuli. For example, certain cells such as
T-lymphocytes can sense particular external
stimuli, and then deal with pathogens. The
challenge is to design bio-inspired systems
and devices for detecting hazardous bio-
logical and chemical agents and strengthen
national security systems.
2.
Bio-Inspiration:
Developing a system that
performs the same function, even with dif-
ferent scheme. For example, the adhesive
gecko foot, the self-cleaning lotus leaf,
and the fracture-resistant mollusk shell
are examples of inspiring structures. The
cutting-edge optical technology solutions
can be found in animals as well: multilayer
reflectors, diffraction gratings that spread
a beam of light waves, optical fibers, liquid
crystals, and structures that scatter light. For
instance, Morpho butterfly has iridescence
sparkle and blue color visible from hundreds
of meters due to periodic photonic nano-
structure in scales on wings that responds
to specific wavelengths of light without any
dye involved.
3.
Bio-Derivation:
Using existing biomaterial
to create a hybrid with artificial material.
For example, it may be incorporation of
biologically derived protein into polymeric
(having many similar units bonded together)
assemblies for targeted drug delivery. The
eyes of higher organisms and the pho-
tosynthesis mechanism (in green plants
and other organisms which use sunlight
to synthesize carbohydrates as food from
In a process of nature-inspired inquiry about
computing for art creation artists and scientists
examine those rules and formulas in science,
which define natural processes by abstracting the
essentials from specific events or objects, such as
elements (e.g., carbon or oxygen) or molecules
(e.g., water). One may see organic chemistry as
a study of structure, properties, and reactions
carbon-based compounds, such as hydrocarbons
consisting of hydrogen and carbon, carbohydrates
consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (for
example, with a ratio 2:1 as in water molecule),
and other carbon-based compounds. We assume
