Natural shapes

How does shape relate to function in the natural world?
Exploring and noticing Working systematically Conjecturing and generalising Visualising and representing Reasoning, convincing and proving
Being curious Being resourceful Being resilient Being collaborative

Problem



 

Certain biological creations exhibit a striking regularly repeating structure - either 3-dimensional or planar. Here are some pictures of interesting biological structures:

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Natural shapes


Image
Natural shapes


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Natural shapes


Can you see any regularly repeating structural elements in these images? Classify them as fully as you can.

Can you identify what each image represents? How does its structure enable it to perform its function?

Can you group these structural forms into categories? Can you think of other examples of natural objects which show the structural characteristics common to the members of each group?

     

    Notes and background

    Working out how molecules pack together can give important insights into their properties. There are many different possibilities. DNA wraps together in the familiar and straightforward double-helical configuation whereas complex molecules such as proteins pack, or fold, together in very intricate ways.