Chapter Four: Teeth Everywhere

In this chapter, Shubin shows us how our teeth are accountable for breaking down food and fighting prey. They are also very useful as evidence in fossils because teeth can be preserved for very long periods of time. Through preserved teeth, scientists are able to trace down evidence and information of extinct creatures millions of years ago. The enamel that coats our teeth plays an important role by maintaining the texture and durability of our teeth even beyond one's death. When Shubin tells us about his journey with Chuck, I realized the meticulous role that a paleontologist undergoes. It was interesting how, even for him, it was extremely difficult to find anything new in the vast Arizona desert. However, Shubin finally attains a few techniques and clues that allows him to discover all sorts of new things by looking for "something different, something that had the texture of bone not rock, something that glistened like teeth, something that looked like an arm bone, not a piece of sandstone" (64). The theme that is portrayed in the past chapters is amazing because it shows the capabilities of tracing the same organ in different creatures.