# Biological or biologically-inspired
**Trait Number:** 3
**Layer:** Physical
**Bit Position:** 3
**Binary Encoding:** `00100000 00000000 00000000 00000000`
**UHT Code (self-encoding):** `20 00 00 00`
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# Icon
![[Icon3.png|200]]
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## Definition
The entity is either **biological in origin** or **inspired by biological systems**. This includes living organisms, parts of living systems, or designs modeled on biological structure or behavior.
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## When to Apply
Use this trait when the entity:
- Is a living organism or a component of one (cell, organ, DNA)
- Is a natural product of biological processes (e.g. a spiderweb)
- Is designed to imitate, replicate, or derive from biology (e.g. neural networks, biomimetic robots)
Avoid applying if the entity:
- Merely interacts with biology (e.g. a medical device)
- Is organic in chemistry but not biological in function or inspiration
- Draws metaphorical parallels to biology without structural modeling
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## Examples
- A bacterium
- A human organ
- A mycelial network
- A robotic arm designed to mimic muscle function
- A genetic algorithm inspired by natural selection
- A protein or enzyme
- A bee-inspired swarm drone
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## Commentary
This trait covers both **natural biology** and **biomimicry**. The “biologically-inspired” clause includes computational and mechanical systems explicitly modeled after biological ones — even if implemented in code or synthetic materials.
Not all organic chemistry qualifies, and not all life-related things are included unless they represent biological origin or structural mimicry. For example, a wooden chair is made from biological material, but is not itself biological unless designed to replicate biological behavior or systems.
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**© 2025 Steven Holland. All rights reserved.**
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