Enter Teeth

This chapter brought to light what I never thought would be as important as the bones of arms, legs, and body: teeth, especially as scientists can further understand prehistoric animals characteristics. I also found his incorporation with our teeth model very interesting as it shows, even visually how carnivores and herbivore's teeth just might and could look like.

What truly surprised me was the transformation with teeth in the past: as teeth originally arose to bite creatures, it was used to protect them as well. This makes me wonder whether other animals will change like that.

What also amazed me was how Shubin claimed that teeth reveal the origin of a new way of making organs as the interaction between two layers of tissue while secreting different kinds of proteins to create teeth. I also found how hairs, feathers, as well as breasts were made all the same way was interesting as the tooth and hair are very different in their functions as well as what they look like. Maybe in the future we can use this process to make teeth and maybe other organs away from the body.

I also found Shubin's first hand account about his experience excavating fossils as well as conducting his very "own" excavation, was interesting and very story-like; in the end he found important fossils and as well understanding of what was different, the discrepancies, the ability to find fossils. It is interesting as how Shubin only dug up a tooth but ended up finding a plethora of bones. This inspires me to never give up as it just might pay off; maybe i can find my tooth too:D.

Finally,the way how Shubin slowly builds up his point is very helpful as in this chapter he specifically talked about the bones as in the previous chapters he talked about similar bones between humans and fish and DNA recipes which many creatures follow. He slowly proves his point that "the diverse inhabitants of our world are just variations on a theme."