I did not realize that Shubin discovered Tiktaalik in 2004. For some reason, I just assumed that it was discovered long ago and I was unaware that discoveries such as this occured recently.
When I realized that this chapter was about DNA, I was excited because genetics are one of the most interesting topics in biology to me. In my freshmen year, genetics was one of the few topics which really interested me in biology. As I read, my interest grew in this book. It fascinates me that a tiny patch of tissue, known as ZPA, has so much power in the development of a creature. If the Sonic hedgehog does not turn on or off at the correct time, the creature could become malformed, therefore affecting the rest of its life. Also, I think it is impressive that the Sonic hedgehog automatically knows when to activate and deactivate. Knowing that various creatures have Sonic hedgehog within them is astonishing because that means that humans are not only physically traceable and similar to other creatures, such as fish, but also internally. We are all related through bones and DNA.
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