<i>Quo vadis</i>biophotonics? Wearing serendipity and slow science as a badge of pride, and embracing biology

Schröder‐Turk, Gerd E.

doi:10.1039/d0fd00108b

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 89 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…[ 63d,e,64 ] Although model lipid systems tend to form three‐periodic minimal surfaces that divide space into two equivalent regions, in the biological examples mentioned above this balance can be lost and the surfaces are no longer minimal (see discussion in ref. [65]). However, these structures can still retain constant mean curvature but have different channel widths and represent material interfaces offset from minimal surfaces.…”

Section: Curvature Emergence In Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Curvature in Biological Systems: Its Quantification, Emergence, and Implications across the Scales

et al. 2023

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Surface curvature both emerges from, and influences the behavior of, living objects at length scales ranging from cell membranes to single cells to tissues and organs. The relevance of surface curvature in biology has been supported by numerous recent experimental and theoretical investigations in recent years. In this review, we first give a brief introduction to the key ideas of surface curvature in the context of biological systems and discuss the challenges that arise when measuring surface curvature. Giving an overview of the emergence of curvature in biological systems, its significance at different length scales becomes apparent. On the other hand, summarizing current findings also shows that both single cells and entire cell sheets, tissues or organisms respond to curvature by modulating their shape and their migration behavior. Finally, we address the interplay between the distribution of morphogens or micro-organisms and the emergence of curvature across length scales with examples demonstrating these key mechanistic principles of morphogenesis. Overall, this review highlights that curved interfaces are not merely a passive by-product of the chemical, biological and mechanical processes but that curvature acts also as a signal that co-determines these processes.

show abstract

Section: Curvature Emergence In Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Curvature in Biological Systems: Its Quantification, Emergence, and Implications across the Scales

et al. 2023

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Polarization and reflectance are linked to climate, size and mechanistic constraints in a group of scarab beetles

Ospina-Rozo,

Medina,

Hugall

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Beetles exhibit an extraordinary diversity of brilliant and colourful appearances and optical effects invisible to humans. Their underlying mechanisms have received some attention, but we know little about the ecological variables driving their evolution. Here we investigated environmental correlates of reflectivity and circular polarization in a group of optically diverse beetles (Scarabaeidae–Rutelinae). We quantified the optical properties of 261 specimens representing 46 species using spectrophotometry and calibrated photographs. Then, we examined associations between these properties and environmental variables such as temperature, humidity and vegetation cover, controlling for body size and phylogenetic relatedness. Our results showed larger beetles have higher visible reflectivity in drier environments. Unexpectedly, near-infrared (NIR) reflectivity was not correlated with ecological variables. However, we found a correlation between humidity and polarization (chiral nanostructures). We identified trade-offs between optical properties: beetles without polarization-associated nanostructures had higher NIR reflectivity. By contrast, visible reflectivity was negatively correlated with the accumulation of pigments such as melanin. Our study highlights the value of a macroecological approach for testing alternative hypotheses to explain the diversity of optical effects in beetles and to understand the link between structure and function. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-024-80325-1.

show abstract

Quo vadisbiophotonics? Wearing serendipity and slow science as a badge of pride, and embracing biology

Abstract: The field of ‘biological and bio-inspired optics’ has led to a solid understanding of the materials properties of photonic and nanostructured biological materials. Future progress may result from a greater focus on living tissue and biology.

Cited by 2 publications

References 89 publications

Curvature in Biological Systems: Its Quantification, Emergence, and Implications across the Scales

Curvature in Biological Systems: Its Quantification, Emergence, and Implications across the Scales

Polarization and reflectance are linked to climate, size and mechanistic constraints in a group of scarab beetles

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About