Chapter 3- "Handy Genes"

While reading this chapter, I gained a lot of insight towards what genes and DNA are and what kind of functions they perform. Before, I was completely clueless towards how humans obtain specific hereditary characteristics. I learned that a certain patch of tissue called the ZPA allows the pinky side to be dissimilar from the thumb side. I was surprised that such a small trait like distance can result in such a distinctive outcome. Who knew that the distance in a piece of tissue can form separate digits in a hand? The possibilities are endless.

Also, I was very captivated by the various experiments performed by scientists like Tabin, Zwilling, and Dahn. The way they can manipulate an animal's embryo or alternate a specific animal egg fascinated me because of the shocking outcomes. In addition, the discovery of Sonic hedgehog was interesting because I never knew that such a small defect in the hand can cause major deformities later on. The experiments with the flies, skates, and sharks made me realize how similar we are to other animals in our genetic structures. By performing diverse experiments, we can make so many discoveries about the history of our being.