Issue 25, 2012

Innovation through imitation: biomimetic, bioinspired and biokleptic research

Abstract

While biomimetic research is becoming increasingly popular the term is being used for a broader range of research and it is becoming more difficult for researchers to understand and define. In this opinion article we discuss how biomimetic research overlaps with and differs from the complementary fields of biotechnology, biokleptic and bioinspired research as we attempt to describe each area with definitions, examples and discussion. What makes research biomimetic, bioinspired or biokleptic is put under scrutiny as we ask: can different components, parts and processes of an experiment be categorised separately? What is the difference between a biological and synthetic system/component? Is the scientist or biology in control? The answers to which aim to untangle the subtleties of the biomimetics field.

Graphical abstract: Innovation through imitation: biomimetic, bioinspired and biokleptic research

Additions and corrections

Article information

Article type
Opinion
Submitted
20 Feb 2012
Accepted
29 Mar 2012
First published
26 Apr 2012

Soft Matter, 2012,8, 6675-6679

Innovation through imitation: biomimetic, bioinspired and biokleptic research

A. E. Rawlings, J. P. Bramble and S. S. Staniland, Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 6675 DOI: 10.1039/C2SM25385B

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