Final answer:
Barriers can be compromised through physical damage, such as the wear on aging infrastructures, or through biological means, such as pathogens overcoming first line defenses. Poor design decisions can also lead to barriers becoming ineffective, comparable to how gametic barriers prevent fertilization in biology.
Step-by-step explanation:
When determining barrier construction or placement, one must remember that barriers can be compromised. There are a variety of ways that barriers can lose their effectiveness.
One way that barriers can be compromised is through physical damage. For instance, aging infrastructures like bridges can become prone to collapse due to wear and tear. Similarly, biological barriers, such as those that make up the body's first line of defense, can be breached by pathogens if they are not properly maintained or if there is an overwhelming exposure.
Another method of compromise comes through inadequate design. In the context of reproduction, a gametic barrier occurs when there are differences in gamete cells that prevent fertilization. This concept can be extrapolated to the design of non-biological barriers, where poor early design decisions can make it impossible to meet the intended needs.