I was a little grossed out when I first read this chapter and found out that Shubin had made an "emotional" connection to the hand of a dead guy. I mean yeah it's amazing to discover the history and evolution of our limbs and hands, but there's just a little too much feeling there for me hahaha. To this extent, I totally agree with Megan Hsiao, that stuff just grosses me out.
One thing I liked in chapters 2 and 1 is that Shubin asks questions, such as "But what are the major changes that enable us to use our hands or walk on two legs?" (42). Not only does provoke me to think about the answer and think critically , he provides an explanation so I can check my answer with his explanation afterward.
The one thing that still gets me all crazy and wondering like heck is "The earliest development of humans lie in fish". Oh my god, seriously? Even after all the ways Shubin has proven this, I still can't believe it; I actually do believe it, but it's just THAT bizarre.
So, in this chapter I learned about the history of our wrists and fingers; according to Jenny, limbs were developed in the earliest years to help animals swim, not walk as much of the world we know today was underwater. So how did those limbs develop even further into what we know as hands, wrists and feet? Well, the concept is: there are monster fish living in the waters, and if a fish can not grow big and strong to protect itself, then it should get it's butt out of the water and onto land--this explains the development of our wrists and hands today. This all relates back to the Tiktaalik as Megan mentioned in her post because it shows the starting stage for the evolution from being a water mammal to a land mammal. If one really thinks about it, wrists are a necessity to live on land because we don't float around like we would if we were underwater; in the early world, limbs were required to traverse on land. Merely propelling with "fins" against the wind like fish push through the water will not help us get around; thus, the earliest limbs were developed for the same reason every other "organ" is developed: to survive in a designated enviornment by allowing us to catch food, find shelter and defend or escape predators. Bottom line: WE NEED LIMBS TO MOVE ON LAND.
-Ejay Yuan
The one thing that still gets me all crazy and wondering like heck is "The earliest development of humans lie in fish". Oh my god, seriously? Even after all the ways Shubin has proven this, I still can't believe it; I actually do believe it, but it's just THAT bizarre.
So, in this chapter I learned about the history of our wrists and fingers; according to Jenny, limbs were developed in the earliest years to help animals swim, not walk as much of the world we know today was underwater. So how did those limbs develop even further into what we know as hands, wrists and feet? Well, the concept is: there are monster fish living in the waters, and if a fish can not grow big and strong to protect itself, then it should get it's butt out of the water and onto land--this explains the development of our wrists and hands today. This all relates back to the Tiktaalik as Megan mentioned in her post because it shows the starting stage for the evolution from being a water mammal to a land mammal. If one really thinks about it, wrists are a necessity to live on land because we don't float around like we would if we were underwater; in the early world, limbs were required to traverse on land. Merely propelling with "fins" against the wind like fish push through the water will not help us get around; thus, the earliest limbs were developed for the same reason every other "organ" is developed: to survive in a designated enviornment by allowing us to catch food, find shelter and defend or escape predators. Bottom line: WE NEED LIMBS TO MOVE ON LAND.
-Ejay Yuan
"We need limbs to move onto land"... What about snakes? How come they evolved to be limbless again? Oh the mystery!
ReplyDeleteHi Mr. Tisor,
ReplyDeleteAfter a week about contemplating about your comment, I have come up with a reason why snakes might be limbless... here it is:
I am inclined to believe that snakes are limbless because it helps them survive in their environment such as helping them keep low-profile when searching for food or for more mobility when trying to escape predators. Snakes must also be one of the animals that link the transition between land and water animals because they have lungs, yet no limbs. Considering this, having no limbs might help them move around more easily--in a sense that they don't have to drag their hands/feet around in the mud or water in which they live; it's easier just to "slither" around-- in their habitats, which are I presume, near water.