Article Questions

Read the this article and answer the following questions.

1. What is the lotus effect and how has it been applied to a house paint?

2. What is biomimicry?

3. Why are hypodermic needle tips and Velcro considered examples of biomimicry?

4. What process allows a gecko to move at a rate of three feet per second?

5. Why are researchers studying the ears of the Ormia fly?

6. What are some examples of how organisms have solved their own water treatment problems?

7. What are the obstacles involved in using mussels to develop a water-resistant glue?

8. How has splicing genes been used to enhance biomimicry?

9. Why do some advocates of biomimicry have concerns about transplanting genes between species?

10. How has biomimicry enhanced the development of alternative polymers?

11. How have carpet manufacturers used biomimicry in developing some of their more recent products?

On Your Own:
Research one other example of biomimicry not discussed in the article and discuss
how it is used.