Why in the news?

  • In a new study, published in PNAS Nexus by researchers in Germany, found that the prevalence of tilings in nature is surprisingly more widespread.

Biological Tilings

  • Definition: Biological tilings are natural patterns in which biological structures arrange themselves into repeating, space-filling shapes with minimal gaps or overlaps.
  • Causes
    • To minimize energy usage
    • To ensure optimal space utilisation
    • To provide mechanical stability
    • To improve structural strength
    • To enable efficient resource use or storage
    • To reflect growth dynamics during development
  • Types of Biological Tilings
    • Hexagonal Tilings (Most Common)
      • Honeycomb structures in bees
      • Hexagonal packing of epithelial cells
      • Ommatidia arrangement in insect eyes
      • Reason: Hexagons provide maximum area for minimum perimeter → highest efficiency.
    • Voronoi Tilings
      • Epidermal cells in plant leaves
      • Fish skin pigmentation patterns
      • Vascular network distribution
      • Cells divide space based on proximity and competition.
    • Foam-like Tilings
      • Lung alveoli
      • Certain plant tissues and moss structures
      • Patterns formed where surface area maximisation is critical
    • Spiral (Phyllotactic) Tilings
      • Sunflower head arrangement
      • Pinecone scales
      • Fibonacci sequence-based spirals

Source: The Hindu