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Branching In Nature. BRANCHING!. Balance of forces Indicates flow of energy and/or materials Efficient distribution and collection in biological systems: roots, leaves, twigs, branches, bronchi, nervous system, circulatory system, hyphae.
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BRANCHING! • Balance of forces • Indicates flow of energy and/or materials • Efficient distribution and collection in biological systems: roots, leaves, twigs, branches, bronchi, nervous system, circulatory system, hyphae
Branching patterns in nature are the result of a balance of forces. Branching patterns are an efficient way to distribute materials and energy
At first glance, this image may look like a pattern of branching blood vessels. This is actually an image that was taken about 700 km from Earth’s surface of the Mississippi Delta-- where the water from the Mississippi river flows into the Gulf of Mexico
Flow of Energy---High Voltage Dielectric Lichtenberg Figure and Optic Neurons in a Blowfly
Microscopic view of a mycelium which is the part of a fungus (mold) that absorbs nutrients from other living or dead organisms. This image covers a one-millimeter square
Trees are fractal in nature– repeating patterns over and over
False-colour (computer graphics) photograph of a resin cast of the human bronchial tree, the network of airways serving both lungs. The trunk of the tree is the trachea (windpipe, top centre), which branches into the left and right bronchi. Further divisions occur, with the smallest branches, the bronchioles, terminating in alveoli (air sacs), where gaseous exchange with the blood circulation takes place.
Wing veination of a butterfly (left) and fly (right)– insects (especially flies) are identified by their particular wing vein branching – this also suggests evolution– flies have a common venation scheme--- individuals species are recognized by their slight variation on that scheme
Venation Branching Patters Are Evidence of Evolution • Fore wing of Lithopanorpapusilla • Photograph of (fossil) wing of Lithopanorpapusilla
Another example of branching venation patterns as evidence of evolution • Fore (?) wing of Agetopanorpamaculata • Photograph of (fossil) wing of Agetopanorpamaculata