Biomimicry: Significance and Learnings from Nature

Healthful Vitality | 05/16/2021 | Biomimicry: Significance and Learnings from Nature

As technology has advanced, an overall drift towards industrialization has happened quickly. Several developments have increased humans’ lifespans and reduced disease risk. However, they contributed to pollution and environmental destruction. In order to improve and produce better products that can improve the lifestyle, humanity is on the verge of needing more resources. It is believed that solutions to all the problems can be found within nature. This approach is based on biomimicry, which adopts all the best practices, learned and observed from nature (1,2). This article: Biomimicry: Significance and Learnings from Nature, explores the evolution processes, from the concept of biomimetics to biomimicry design inspirations from nature to the importance of biomimicry in medical research, including the animal kingdom and novel insights.

Biomimicry: Significance and Learnings from Nature

Concept of biomimetics

The term ‘Biomimicry’ is a combination of two Greek words, “bios” (life) and “mimesis” (to imitate). However, the definition is more complex. Importantly, it can be defined as an advanced form of technology based on learning and knowledge obtained from nature (imitates nature) to improve the overall well-being of humans (1).

Biomimicry or Biomimetics is an approach to closely examine the functions and processes of nature for inspiration that can practically implement for humans’ survival. Different names in different locations, such as in the US, are referred to as “smart material” and “intellectual structure” in Japan. The key idea of this method is that nature has existed for ages and produced excellent outcomes regarding productivity and func­tion. Therefore, it can play a significant role when designing something new and helpful. Furthermore, it will help avoid unnecessary expenditures by eliminating waste products and using natural methods for research (2).

Design inspirations from nature 

This model of seeking nature for solutions to fulfill the needs and structure new challenges has been adopted in several aspects of our lives. The limitation of nature has improved our lives in many ways. For instance, we design a simple Velcro or aircraft with a complex system. Interestingly, the seed of a burdock plant served as a hook in a Velcro. This process happened when George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer, was walking in a forest and wondered that burdock seeds clung to his clothes and dog. He made a few modifications and created two fabric designs, including one with hooks.

Similarly, after taking insights from birds, aircraft was designed. Aircraft design helped develop the automotive design with the aerodynamically efficient system (wings and body). In addition, the scope and usefulness of biomimicry have been observed in other areas—for example, materials science, robotics, transport, and architecture. Evolution has ensured that nature’s design, system, and functions are effectively optimized. And they are sustainable. Therefore, they are also called “time-tested” designs (3).

Importance of biomimicry in medical research

With new challenges and obstacles related to human health, it is crucial to design new strategies and models. One of the essential tools that are becoming a driving force is biomimicry. Researchers and scientists can identify the impact of evolution in optimizing systems, physiologies, and substances. Nature has found long-term success and sustainability solutions because nature never cheats. However, it makes the quality of solutions far better than that achieved by artificial means. Biomimicry is present all around us, such that animals have evolved their genetic structure for millions of years. Furthermore, epigenetic changes have occurred in extreme environments (Arctic regions or the Sahara desert), providing essential lessons to the researchers (4).

Basic medical research is based on understanding primitive model organisms such as Caenorhabditis Elegans, an invertebrate with no stem cells, and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. This model helped establish vertebrate animal models (mice and rats). However, we need to obtain effective outcomes with the traditional approach. This difficulty is mainly due to the absence of enormous diversity of adaptations that cannot study in a laboratory. Furthermore, research on animal models cannot be adequately replicated in human trials. This inadequacy in human trials is considering that laboratory animals have poor health and are metabolically morbid (5). This issue highlights one of the key reasons why findings attained from animal models in a laboratory setup often fail when targeted for the human population.

The animal kingdom and novel insights

Since industrialization has grown, lifespan has doubled. This doubled lifespan is mainly due to better treatments, improved nutritional status, and public health (vaccinations), resulting in minimized mortality at young ages. It is great to experience that the coexistence of four generations will be seen for the first time. However, there is a lack of healthy living, as humans are continuously being exposed to several risk factors (environmental and lifestyle) that will decrease their health span (6).

In the past few years, a shift in the intake of food products (excessive calories and salt, processed/packaged foods) and lack of physical activity have affected the genome, which has not happened for a long time. However, we still have a long way to go to prevent the whole burden of diseases and lifestyle-associated conditions that are now frequently affecting humans. Therefore, in such situations, nature will provide all the answers that can help to identify mammals with limited senescence (6).

Biomimicry helps us understand the mechanism involved in aging and how primates age

Biomimicry will help us to understand the mechanism involved in aging and how primates age. For example, great apes do not age much beyond 50 years. In the past, ancestors had no access to modern medicines; infections were the critical factor leading to their deaths, similar to chimpanzees in the wild (7). However, research has shown that chimpanzees can identify herbs with anti-parasitic properties, which they use when encountering parasitic infections (8). In addition, chimpanzees eat the leaves of the plant Vernonia family, which helps them to reduce the risk of infections.

Interestingly, a survey revealed that plants belonging to the Vernonia family (Asteraceae) have properties that could predominantly show promising results against diabetes and malaria (9). Additionally, these could be potential agents against inflammatory conditions and cancer (9). This unique ability for self-medication can also be observed in ants, fruit flies, and moths (8), demonstrating their innate ability to adapt to the environment (8).

The impact of robust mitochondrial functions and protein homeostasis

Animals have a higher lifespan than humans, mainly due to their multiple metabolic alterations. In addition, due to the presence of robust mitochondrial functions and protein homeostasis, animals have stress resistance qualities. Studies have shown that aging is strongly associated with mitochondrial alterations and therapy that targets the transcription factor Nrf2 and the upregulation of antioxidants to bridge the gap between life and health.

When translated to humans, this data showed that in several inflammation-related diseases, Nrf2 expression was down-regulated, also observed in Hutchinson Gilford Progeria syndrome (10), which shows that premature aging also involves depressed Nrf2 as a critical factor. Furthermore, the findings from the animal have identified Nrf2 deficiency (11) and hypoxia as crucial factors associated with senescence, representing the vital role of repressed Nrf2 activity and hypoxia in diseases seen in humans. A clear understanding of the physiobiology of long-lived animals will contribute to a better understanding of human-related aging processes that will help develop novel interventions (12).

The evolving strategy of hibernation in certain species

Another strategy that has evolved during evolution is hibernation in certain species. For example, bears can conserve energy and survive extreme environments (nutrient–water shortage, coldness, and hypoxia). As bears face such challenges and manage an effective balance between their metabolic supply and demand, novel models have been developed. These novel models help them to escape the burden of lifestyle diseases, including organ preservation (13), ischaemic brain damage, obesity and muscle wasting, sedentary-related diseases, and osteoporosis. In addition, hibernation can be considered a slowing down of the aging process as many similarities have been observed between long-lived animal models and hibernation phenotypes.

In other species, antioxidant defense mechanisms have been associated with Nrf2 (and FOXO) in hibernating brains. This association effect shows that this mechanism aims to avoid severe organ damage in hibernation. Furthermore, hibernation models have revealed different alterations in the animal’s body, such as synaptic remodeling connections. Therefore, these results can help manage neurodegenerative diseases. For instance, in Alzheimer’s, the initial phase involves a decrease in synaptic numbers consistently as the disease progresses.

Conclusion

Nature is filled with evolution strategies that have allowed the species to adapt and continuously regulate their functions and physiologies, which can be applied in the medical field to broaden the approach and obtain creative solutions. As shown above, when we examine Biomimicry: Significance and Learnings from Nature, it comprehends the core idea of nature and natural evolution processes. Emerging evidence suggests that chronic disease and lifestyle-related problems can be assessed by looking at nature’s processes. Indeed, enhanced survival is possible if the following factors are taken into account, such as mitochondrial biogenesis (fasting, nutrients) and upregulation of Nrf2-KEAP1 (the cytoprotective transcription factor). These areas will help the researchers to implement these novel methods for developing treatment interventions for the burden of lifestyle diseases.

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