This seminar explores the links between biology and architecture. It begins with statistics used to quantify shapes and morphologies and application of these methods to a cultural product: violins. How evolutionary processes change the structure of human-made products is discussed. The seminar then looks into the shape and structure of leaves and their functional significance. Finally, the lecture looks at a series of examples in which biology has inspired design and vice versa, and the importance of modeling, self-organizing structures, and generative forms in both designing objects and understanding organisms and biology.

1. The Spandrels of San Marco
Stephen J. Gould & Richard C. Lewontin (1979)

2. Imitation, genetic lineages,
and time influenced the
morphological evolution
of the violin
Dan Chitwood
Donald Danforth
Plant Science Center
September 15, 2015

10. How to measure shape:

11. Shape = { xn, yn }
How to measure shape:
Coordinates and landmarks

12. How to measure shape:
Chain code

13. How to measure shape:
Chain code

14. How to measure shape:
Chain code

15. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

16. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

17. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0

18. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0

19. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0

20. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7

21. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0

22. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6

23. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0

24. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6

25. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6

26. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6

27. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6

28. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6

29. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6

30. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6

31. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4

32. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6

33. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6

34. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6

35. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6

36. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6

37. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0

38. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0

39. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6

40. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6

41. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6

42. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7

43. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6

44. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6

45. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5

46. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6

47. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6

48. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4

49. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6

50. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4

51. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4

52. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6

53. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4

54. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4

55. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4

56. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4

57. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4

58. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4

59. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3

60. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4

61. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3

62. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3

63. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3

64. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2

65. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2

66. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2

67. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2

68. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0

69. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2

70. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2

71. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2

72. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0

73. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0

74. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2

75. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2

76. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2

77. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2

78. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2

79. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3

80. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2

81. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2

82. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2

83. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2

84. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2

85. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2

86. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 0

87. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 0
2

88. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 0
2 0

89. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 0
2 0 1

90. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 0
2 0 1 0

91. How to measure shape:
Chain code
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 0
2 0 1 0
Shape =
{ }

92. How to measure shape:
Elliptical Fourier Descriptors

93. How to measure shape:
Elliptical Fourier Descriptors
Kuhl and Giardina Computer Graphics & Image Processing (1982)

94. How to measure shape:
Elliptical Fourier Descriptors
Kuhl and Giardina Computer Graphics & Image Processing (1982)Kuhl and Giardina Computer Graphics & Image Processing (1982)

95. How to measure shape:
Elliptical Fourier Descriptors
0 0 0 7 0 6 0 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6
0 0 6 6 6 7 6 6 5 6
6 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 4 4
4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 0
2 0 1 0
Shape =
{ }

96. How to measure shape:
Elliptical Fourier Descriptors
a1, a2, a3 … an
b1, b2, b3 … bn
c1, c2, c3 … cn
d1, d2, d3 … dn
Shape =
{ }
Harmonic coefficients:

97. How to measure shape:
Elliptical Fourier Descriptors
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
z4941_1
# harmonics
2
4
8
16
32
64

98. The morphological evolution of violins:
Predecessors and relatives of the violin

99. The morphological evolution of violins:
Predecessors and relatives of the violin

100. The morphological evolution of violins:
Violin family members

101. The morphological evolution of violins:
Violin family members

102. The morphological evolution of violins:
Violin family members

103. The morphological evolution of violins:
The effects of time on shape

105. The morphological evolution of violins:
The effects of imitation on shape

106. The morphological evolution of violins:
The effects of human relatedness

108. The morphological evolution of violins:
The effects of human relatedness

109. Laura Miller

110. Beyond the desert tomato ….

111. Beyond the desert tomato ….
30,000 genes, 8 different species

112. Beyond the desert tomato ….
30,000 genes, 8 different species

113. High-throughput phenotyping
to identify drought-resistant genes

114. Where do drought-resistant traits originate?
The meristem
Mature organs Stem cells
The meristem

115. Husbands, Chitwood, et al. (2009) Genes & Dev.
We measure mature organ phenotypes.
Why? And are they relevant?

116. Heisler et al. (2005) Current Biology

117. Smith et al. (2006) PNAS

120. Macoto
Murayama

126. Seed Cathedral
Thomas Heatherwick

129. Rolling Bridge
Thomas Heatherwick

130. Urban tissue experiment
Márton Jancsó

131. Dune architecture
Sporosarcina pasteurii
Magnus Larsson

132. Self-organizing robot swarms

133. Nath et al. Science 2003

134. Self-organizing robot swarms

135. @nervous_jessica

136. @nervous_jessica