Chapter Five: Getting Ahead

Shubin starts off the beginning of chapter 5 by discussing the complexity of cranial nerves by comparing it to the wall of wires within his household as being a big jumbled mess. Shubin then goes on to discuss all of the specific functions of certain cranial nerves like the facial and trigeminal nerves. It was very interesting to read that each nerve was able to control certain muscles within our body, and how they all function as one unit for the result of one single movement within our bodies. As the chapter continued, Shubin again was able to convince readers of the universal connection between humanity and other creatures where he compared humans with sharks. Within the embryos of humans and sharks there are arches within our heads that shows that we are connected because each arch has the same function between two completely different species. I was also very shocked when Shubin attempted to prove that there is not only a connection between humanity and sharks, but with humans and earth worms. How can there be a connection when humans have heads and earthworms do not? But yet again, Shubin was able to open my eyes by proving that there truly is a connection. It was shocking to learn that there is one similarity between earth worms and humans: a notochord. It was so odd that as humans we could have a similarity with an organism that seems so foreign on the outside that it couldn't be possible to be the same as humans. As I continue to read this novel, it truly wakes me up and makes me see how all humans are connected to every animal.