Name_______________________________ Class __________________ Date __________________

STEM LAB

Biomimicry in Engineering
In this lab, you will use a biological structure that is both as light and strong as a
model to design and create a beam, net, or other structure to bridge a 35-cm span.

PURPOSE
Explore biomimicry by using as a biological structure as a model to design and
build a structure to bridge a 35-cm span. Test your design to determine its strength
per gram of weight.

ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS

Identify a Need What’s the problem?
Conduct Research What have others done? What are the constraints?
Brainstorm Solutions How can you solve the problem? Brainstorm multiple ideas.
Select a Solution Which ideas best meet the need? Which ideas meet all of your
constraints? Choose the best one.
Design a Solution Describe or draw a diagram of the steps you will take to solve
the problem. Make a list of what you will need to implement your solution.
Follow your plan.
Test and Evaluate Test it out! Analyze your results. Were they what you expected?
Think about what your results say about your plan.
Redesign to Improve What changes could you make that would give you better
results? Make your design even better. Test it out!
Communicate Share your results with others throughout the design process and get
their feedback. Report on your final design.

POSSIBLE MATERIALS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• balance
• drinking straws
• pantyhose
• paper, 20 lb (11 in.
17 in.)
• paper clips
• scissors
• string, cotton
• utility knife
• white glue

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Holt McDougal Biology 1 Biology in the 21st Century

STEM Lab Section 2: Unifying Themes of Biology
Name_______________________________ Class __________________ Date __________________

Biomimicry in Engineering continued

BACKGROUND
Biologists are aware of many similarities among different species. Sometimes
these similarities exist because a common ancestor of the species passed on the
same trait to all its descendants. For example, all primates have opposable thumbs,
because they inherited this trait from the common ancestor of all primates.
Sometimes different species have similarities because these species have adapted
to the similar environmental pressures. For example, a dolphin is shaped like a
fish, even though the ancestor of the dolphin was a land-dwelling mammal. When
the ancestor of the dolphin moved into the oceans, it had to adapt to living in
water. Over millions of years, a shape that helped the dolphin swim evolved and
the dolphin species survived. Fish evolved a similar shape because those
individuals that were best adapted to their environment survived, reproduced, and
passed on the adaptive shape to future generations.
Studying a species can give inventors ideas about how to design tools that humans
use. This process of using biology as a model for a human design is called
biomimicry. For example, early aircraft inventors looked at flying birds to get
ideas for their aircraft designs. The shape of an airplane wing has some
similarities with the shape of a bird wing, because both wings must make flight
possible.
When scientists and engineers look to biology for a solution to a design problem,
they may try to replicate a structure that makes up part of an organism or is
created by the organism (for example, how a spider builds a web). They also may
try to replicate an organic material or a process that is found in or used by an
organism.

SAFETY
While doing this activity, observe the following safety precautions.
• Always wear a lab apron to protect your clothing.
• Exercise caution when using sharp instruments such as utility knives or scissors.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Holt McDougal Biology 2 Biology in the 21st Century

STEM Lab Section 2: Unifying Themes of Biology
Name_______________________________ Class __________________ Date __________________

Biomimicry in Engineering continued

PROCEDURE
1. Do research to identify biological structures, such as parts of organisms or
structures that organisms build, that are exceptionally light and strong. Study
these biological elements to assess what characteristics make them
exceptionally strong for their weight.
2. Consider the available materials. Brainstorm some ideas about strong, yet
light, biological structures that could be replicated by using these materials.
Then choose one of these structures for your model.
3. Come up with a plan. Consult with your teacher to make sure that the
biological model and building process you have chosen are appropriate.
4. Draw a design for a structure that will not exceed 40 cm
5 cm
5 cm, that
will bridge a 35-cm span, and will be both light and strong. As you plan your
design, take the following steps:
• Select the materials and technology that you will need for your experiment
from those provided by your teacher.
• Decide what construction methods you will use.
• Decide how your structure will be positioned in and if necessary, secured to,
the testing station.
• Decide what safety procedures are necessary.
5. Have your teacher approve your plan.
6. Obtain the necessary materials and set up any apparatus you will need.
7. Take appropriate safety precautions.
8. Build your prototype. Find its mass.
9. In the testing station, determine the strength of your prototype by loading it
with weight until the point of failure. Record observations about the way your
prototype behaves during the test. Calculate its strength per gram.
10. Study your prototype for clues about the way it eventually failed, and why.
Make observations.
11. Develop hypotheses about ways to improve your prototype and revise its
construction to increase its strength and/or decrease its mass.
12. Share your results with other teams. Elicit their feedback on your design.
13. Improve your design, build it, find its mass, and test it.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Holt McDougal Biology 3 Biology in the 21st Century

STEM Lab Section 2: Unifying Themes of Biology
Name_______________________________ Class __________________ Date __________________

Biomimicry in Engineering continued

CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL

Clean your lab station and all equipment that you have used. Return materials and
equipment to their proper storage areas. Wash your hands thoroughly before you
leave the lab.

ANALYSIS
1. Summarizing Data Summarize your findings and observations, including an
analysis of any data that you recorded.
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2. Identifying Relationships Compare your designs with the designs of other
groups. What relationship do you see between the structure of the designs and
their lightness and strength?
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© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Holt McDougal Biology 4 Biology in the 21st Century

STEM Lab Section 2: Unifying Themes of Biology
Name_______________________________ Class __________________ Date __________________

Biomimicry in Engineering continued

CONCLUSIONS
1. Drawing Conclusions What conclusions can you draw from your results? from
your classmates’ results?
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2. Evaluating Models Was your design a good model for a structure that is both
light and strong? Explain why or why not, and give examples of how your
design might be improved.
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© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Holt McDougal Biology 5 Biology in the 21st Century

STEM Lab Section 2: Unifying Themes of Biology