Published: 13 Jun 2018 | Last Updated: 13 Jun 2018 14:58:36

Tune in to BBC4 this evening at 21:00 for the airing of ‘Can Science Make Me Perfect?’ with Alice Roberts for a redesign of the human body inspired by the best adaptations across the animal kingdom.

Among other experts, Alice consulted Structure and Motion’s own Dr Monica Daley, Senior Lecturer in Locomotor Biomechanics, whose research provided insight for the leg and lung adaptations.

The leg modifications are broadly inspired by leg structure and function of agile ground birds such as ostriches, emus, and guinea fowl. Dr Daley dissects an emu to show how the arrangement of bones, muscles and tendons makes these birds better adapted for running than humans. Dr Daley also showed the anatomy and explained the benefits of the avian ventilatory system, which allows for more efficient gas exchange than the simple bidirectional design of human lungs.

The documentary reveals a 3D sculpture of the newly ‘redesigned’ Alice that will also be featured in a new exhibit at the Science Museum in London.

More information about this project can be found on Alice’s blog.