Figure 25.35: In order to increase the genetic diversity of corn, these unusually colored
and shaped Latin American maize are bred with domestic corn lines. Such hybrids have
the potential for increased productivity, nutritional value, adaptation to local climates, and
resistance to local diseases. ( 7 )
with medicinal properties have been examined. Bionics, also known as biomimetics or
biomimicry, uses organisms as models for engineering inspiration. For example, rattlesnake
heat-sensing pits suggest infrared sensors and Zimbabwe’s Eastgate Centre (Figure25.37)
was inspired by the air-conditioning efficiency of a termite mound (Figure25.38).
Figure 25.36: Aspirin originates in the bark of the white willow, pictured here. ( 27 )