Chapter 2

This chapter conducted a high level of analysis on a part of the body that is usually not considered as sophisticated or complex: the hand. At first thought, we as a people do not give much attention to the hand, for we use it carelessly without looking to see the immense value this extension of our arms has. Looking at the ancient creatures, such as Eusthenopteron and Tiktaalik (althought Tiktaalik could perform "push ups"), we see how valuable the hand is and the great deal of functionality that this gives to use humans that other creatures lack.

Also interesting in this chapter is that Shubin opens up controversial issue when it comes to fossil analysis and bodily understanding: creationism vs evolution. This conflict is characterized by Owen's belief in intelligent design or a Creator due to the complexity of the organs and the "blue-print" that is seen throughout, battling against Darwin's view of a progression from species with no hands, to species with hand and later finger due to necessity; in Tiktaalik's case, to escape the "fish eat fish world".

Although Shubin makes the point that we have so much similarity with other animals, and are not as unique as we once thought we were, he does not discount the how special the human body is. Even though we may have originated from a common ancestor, it is the human race today that can walk on two feet and operate with thumbs, not the fish, displaying the"remarkable fact of our existence".

-Abud Albakri