Abstract
This paper explores the question whether fractal geometry forms an important basis for determining the design of biological organisms during morphogenesis. It is first observed that functionally important internal surfaces such as the intracellular membranes of the liver or the gas exchange surface of the lung have characteristics of fractal surfaces in that the surface area measured depends on the microscopic resolution. However, these surfaces are fractal within bounds and the sequential occurrence of different “generators” of surface texture may require several fractal regressions. It is secondly noted that airways and vascular trees show the properties of fractal trees and that this may offer significant functional advantages. The question is finally raised whether and to what extent fractal constructive algorithms may form part of genetic programming.
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Weibel, E.R. (1994). Design of Biological Organisms and Fractal Geometry. In: Nonnenmacher, T.F., Losa, G.A., Weibel, E.R. (eds) Fractals in Biology and Medicine. Mathematics and Biosciences in Interaction. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8501-0_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8501-0_6
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