Modern cities modelled as "super‐cells" rather than multicellular organisms: Implications for industry, goods and services. (3rd June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Jie; Ge, Ying; Wu, Zhaoping; Du, Yuanyuan; Pan, Kaixuan; Yang, Guofu; Ren, Yuan; Heino, Mikko P.; Mao, Feng; Cheong, Kang Hao; Qu, Zelong; Fan, Xing; Min, Yong; Peng, Changhui; Meyerson, Laura A.
• Is Part Of: BioEssays. Volume 43:Number 7(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-06-03
• Subjects: hierarchical living system -- industrial systems -- scaling -- sustainability -- urban‐rural system; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-9247

Abstract

Abstract: The structure and "metabolism" (movement and conversion of goods and energy) of urban areas has caused cities to be identified as "super‐organisms", placed between ecosystems and the biosphere, in the hierarchy of living systems. Yet most such analogies are weak, and render the super‐organism model ineffective for sustainable development of cities. Via a cluster analysis of 15 shared traits of the hierarchical living system, we found that industrialized cities are more similar to eukaryotic cells than to multicellular organisms; enclosed systems, such as factories and greenhouses, paralleling organelles in eukaryotic cells. We further developed a "super‐cell" industrialized city model: a "eukarcity" with citynucleus (urban area) as a regulating centre, and organaras (enclosed systems, which provide the majority of goods and services) as the functional components, and cityplasm (natural ecosystems and farmlands) as the matrix. This model may improve the vitality and sustainability of cities through planning and management. Abstract : In industrial cities, the quantitative configuration, spatial distribution and functioning of organaras, citynucleus and cityplasm are mapping of organelles, nucleus and cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. The deduction from cell to city builds a super‐cell city model and a bionic paradigm for city to provide goods and services sustainably and vitality.