From ResearchID.org

Contents 1 Type  (?) 2 Level  (?) 3 Definition  (?) 4 Objectives  (?) 5 Questions  (?) 6 Keywords  (?) 7 Monographs  (?) 8 eResources  (?) 9 Criticism  (?) 10 Status  (?) 11 Extend  (?) 12 Related  (?) 13 Notes  (?) 14 Field(s)  (?)

Introduction  (?)
As a subfield of biomimicry, the study of biotic modulation looks at how some biological organisms have incredible capabilities of modulation and metamorphosis. Can we gain insight into how these processes work in order to use them to enhance the construction and function of produced goods? Some examples of biotic modulation are clear, others are not so familiar:

• The metamorphosis of butterflies and moths is the most well known of these 'biomodulations'. This change has been called deconstituitive regeneration.
• The growth and consolidation processes of the human skeleton, and other organisms, are amazing phenomena. At birth, the human body contains 800 individual bones, and only 206 bones at maturity.
• Progenitor cells in general, and stem cells in specific, are wonders of biology. During development, these cells can become any one of a multitude of specialized cells, depending on where they are and what else is present at different points of growth.
• Modular thought processes and inspiration in human consciousness are being looked at intently for the development of Artificial Intelligence.
• The inner workings of genetics, DNA, RNA, proteins and amino acids stand as a universal pinnacle of efficiency and utility in the modular processes they are involved in.

What kind of research applications might this study yield? It is very difficult to say. These features of biological organisms are so beyond our ability to design, that we can only imagine how one might analogously use these processes for the improvement of current manufacturing or assembly. How about products with automated self-assembly? Perhaps one day self-installation won't be just for computer software.

Certainly any engineer would like to harness these and other modular aspects of biology. Do incredible processes like these constitute 'Signs of Intelligence'?

Type  (?)

Praxis, Theoria

Level  (?)

All (Undergraduate, Graduate, Doctorate, Postdoctorate)

Definition  (?)

• Study modulation as a biological phenomenon and how these processes can be used as engineering applications.

Objectives  (?)

• Research a specific biomodulation
  • or catalog your own database of biomodulations
• Research a specific product design improvement
  • or catalog possible product design improvements

Questions  (?)

• What developmental subprocesses are involved in biomodulations?

Keywords  (?)

biotic modulation, biomodulation, industrial design, engineering, product enhancement, biomimicry

Monographs  (?)

• Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, Janine Benyus, ISBN 0060533226
• Add a monograph here!

eResources  (?)

• Biomimicry.net - Website for studying biomimicry.
• Turning nature's design into scientific breakthrough - News.com article on someone using naturally occuring shapes for technological advancements.

Criticism  (?)

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• The most useful critiques of this research application, included here as a simple title with a hyperlink or citation.
• This section is not for the inclusion of a critical abstract, only links or citations.
• (1-10 links or citations)

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Status  (?)

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• Select one: 'Current' or 'Potential'
• 'Current' means that there is a researcher/group that has published and/or are working on the research theme.
  • A researcher/group that is undertaking this study openly and explicitly as an ID application is preferred for this entry.
• 'Potential' means that it is not known whether a researcher/group is working on this research application.

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Extend  (?)

• Does Complexity Theory have anything to contribute to this research effort?
• Does the area of Emergent Complexity have any bearing on this research?
• Are Synnergistic processes involved in biomodulation?

Related  (?)

Biotic Engineering, Genomics, Bioinformation, Bioinformatics, Biomimicry

Notes  (?)

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Field(s)  (?)