Ch. 4

From this chapter, i think we all can appreciate the value and importance of our teeth. Though as shubin said, it may not be the most important organ/appendage we can think of, it plays a major role in who we are. The size, shape, and placement of a species' teeth tells us what that organism ate, and how it ate it. Not only that, but it also equalizes and balances the playing field between big fish and little fish, as shubin said. Gone are the days when big fish eat little fish, now, fishes with teeth are able so that little fish eat big fish. Moreover, without these valuable teeth, we humans wouldn't be able to eat the diverse diet that many other species of animals cannot. Who knew that our huge and complex jaws came from small rodent sized animal whose jaw was only a few millimeters wide. It goes to show how far we humans have advanced from our rodent and fish ancestors millions of years ago.
With the Condonts, it is a bit confusing. Its hard to believe that this organism was a sort of primitive teeth for a bigger jawless teeth and usually were found in groups of many. In the case of the Ostraconderms however, goes to show that teeth aren't just for chewing food after all, since it could use its teeth for a shield.
When shubin talks about the relationship of hair, feathers, breasts, and teeth, it only shows that each appendage is the same with only a slightly different interaction of our skin. It's interesting that each one starts off as the same thing, skin, and only by different skin interactions do we get these different appendages on our body. The diagram helps show how these different interactions result in the variety of appendages. Also, i too wonder how these paleontologists gain this mystical magical vision that allows them to spot fossil everywhere in the ground, and how is it that we can obtain these awesome ability.