Phase 2

Ecosystems and resource

exploitation
IB1006 Biomimicry and Sustainability

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 2

Session 7:
Organization of
biological systems
IB1006-Biomimética y Sustentabilidad
Orgnization in life

• All living beings are organized

• Such organization has several levels
• Each level in more complex than the
previous one, having superior
properties as well.
• Each level has new properties, caused
by the interactions between the
different parts of the new whole.
What is the biological spectrum o Life
organization levels?
• Biosphere: Planet Earth
• Ecosystem: Biotic/abiotic factors
• Community: Biotic Interactions
• Population: Herd
• Organisms: Human being / Moose
• Organ system: Nervous system
• Organ: Sets of tissue with a function (brain)
• Tissue: Sets of cells with a function (nerve)
• Cell: Simplest form of life (bacteria, neuron)
• Organelles: Components with basic functions of a cell
(nucleum, ribosome, chloroplasts...).
• Molecule: Compounds with different properties (CO2,
H2O)
• Atom: Simplest form of matter (H, O)
Can you find analogies of the biological
spectrum in human systems?
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organisms
Organ system
Organ
Tissue
Cell
Molecule
Atom
Can you find analogies of the biological
spectrum in human systems?
Biosphere Global Economy
Ecosystem Markets / Regions or nations
Community Sectors / industries /supply chains
Making
analogies this
Population Association or chamber / corporations/ customer segments
way can help
Organisms Company us visualize
Organ system Departments interactions in
Organo Areas (coordination) a systemic level
Tissue Assembly line/ teams
Cell Routine, process
Moecule Workstation
Atom Operation
Features of a living being

• Formed at least by a cell.

• Are organized.
• Respond to stimuli in their
surroundings.
• Their functions are based in energy
use (metabolism).
• They keep stable internal conditions
(homeostasis).
• They reproduce and develop.
• They adapt and evolve.
Any company can be compared to a living being
1. Formed at least by a cell.
2. Are organized.
3. Respond to stimuli in their
surroundings.
4. Their functions are based in
energy use (metabolism).
5. They keep stable internal
conditions (homeostasis).
6. They reproduce and develop.
7. They adapt and evolve.
1. Formed at least by a person/product-
service/operation.
2. Organized in areas, departments,
proceses....
3. Respond to stimuli in the surroundings:
Business opportunities, market preferences,
marketing, currency exchange rate,
economic crisis.
4. Their functions are based in energy use:
electricity, fuels, materials (resources)
5. They keep stable internal conditions
(homeostasis): # employees,
management, accounting, earnings
6. They reproduce (new branches) and
develop (more production lines, purchase
of competitors).
7. They adapt and evolve
Stress as driver for evolution in living beings. Which
analogies could you find for organizations?

Environmental stress
influences organisms, Morphological (appearance or
promoting them to have shape)
modifications

Physiological (functions and

Adaptations
processes)

Improvements in:
• Nutrition Etiological (behavior)
• Reproduction
• Defense
Adaptations

Etiological

Morphological

Physiological
Combining adaptations... Any
example for human systems?

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A good literature option
for a business
prespective
• Could our organizations
become healthy
organisms?
• What kind of stressors are
affecting our
organizations?
• Is our organization ready
to face such stressors and
become prosperous?

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 Learning activity:
“Nature: The best model for
sustainability

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Team activity
• You have been randomly assigned into one of four teams,
check the “People” section in Canvas to see who will be your
teammates.

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Deliverables
Short presentation: 5 min • Short report (1,000 words
per team. minimum).
DUE DATE: September 1st, • Minimum 5 references.
next session!
• DUE DATE: September 1st,
midnight

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It will be a
whiteboard
session
All the teams will present
what they researched about
ONLY USING THE
WHITEBOARD AND MARKERS

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 Different tasks per team
SELF ASSEMBLY IN MOLLUSCS
• Explain:
1. The concept of self-assembly in
the formation of molluscs shells.
2. Show how CO2 is captured in
shells and corals to form
materials.
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BIOMIMICRY DESIGN SPIRAL
1. Explain the Biomimicry Design
Spiral model
2. Present at least 13 real
products inspired by nature,
containing:
• The product description
• The mimicked living organism
description
• The specific feature of the
organism (structure or function)
that was used in the design of
the product
TEAM TIME

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Review questions
• Mention at least 3 things that living organisms and
human organizations have in common.
• Identify the order of growth and complexity in biological
systems and human systems (go from larger to smaller).

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