UCLA biologists have uncovered fundamental principles governing leaf design, revealing leaves as “perfect machines.” Using allometric analysis, they explored the mathematical relationships underlying leaf anatomy variations in different-sized leaves across global plant species. The researchers found that thicker leaves have larger cells in all tissues, except vascular tissue. The relationships extend to cell-wall thickness, allowing the prediction of cell dimensions based on leaf thickness. These findings shed light on how leaves develop and expand, offering insights into photosynthesis and lifespan. The discoveries showcase nature’s elegant solutions and provide blueprints for creating synthetic structures.
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Wow that’s amazing!
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