The End (finally)

Chapter 8: Making Scents
This chapter was actually interesting to read. It was relatively short and straight to the point. I like the part where he mentioned the strong connection we associate scents with memories. I know that when I smell homemade tortillas I immediately think about my grandmother's kitchen. By using the lock-and-key mechanism, I was better able to understand what the molecular part of smelling better. I found it very fascinating that many of the human genes for smelling have been rendered completely useless. I didn't understand why that was like that until finishing the chapter and realizing that we traded sight for smell. It is very amusing to learn how our body has changed and modified to live in today's world.

Chapter 9: Vision
I really enjoy how Shubin uses analogies to compare biology to things that are easier to understand. I appreciate the use of the history of the Corvette because I found reading that easier to connect what Shubin was saying. The information in this chapter was very useful, especially the recap about how the eyes work. I haven't learned about the eyes since I had to dissect the sheep eye in the eighth grade, so I was very grateful for that. Another thing I liked about this chapter is how Shubin included headings for what he was talking about (ex. light-gathering molecules, tissues, and genes). It made reading the chapter much easier. It was very interesting to read that every animal use opsins. I was completely absorbed in the reading while he talked about the eyeless gene. I thought it was crazy how they were able to control the gene to grow eyes anywhere on the fly's body. The vision chapter was very useful to read.

Chapter 10: Ears
I don't know why, but the first page made me laugh for some reason. I like how Shubin calls the inside of the ear a letdown and also I like how he says, "Next time you are at a concert, just imagine all the stuff flying around in your head."..yeah I'm going to a concert on the 2nd and I don't think I'll be thinking about that at all. Maybe because I'll be too focused on not dying in the mosh pit, but nice try Shubin, I shall never match your enthusiasm for biology. It was really shocking for me to read that the middle ear of mammals ultimately evolve from jawbones of reptiles. This just reminds me of how all the animals are related to one another and over time evolved into different species. I enjoyed the small experiment on page 166 because it made me appreciate how great our eye-muscle link. It was interesting reading about what happens to our inner ear when we drink too much, I never knew that was how it worked. The last paragraph really caught my attention, it was amazing to learn that our genes came from primitive creatures like the jellyfish.

Chapter 11: The Meaning of it All
Chapter 11 was a very useful summary. I like how he reminds me of the main points such as descent with modification. We also went back to the zoo, the first chapter which I have long have forgotten by now. I really like the way this book was written because the entire book was basically showing the deep similarities between today's creatures and the long dead ones. He writes in a way that ties all of that with the concept of descent with modification. I really got interested when he was talking about heart disease and obesity and had to laugh when he called us out on not being active. He also made me happy by including the fun interesting fact that the longest uninterrupted hiccups in a person lasted from 1922 to 1990. Shubin really wrote this book well and even kept it entertaining as well as informative. However I will not lie here and come out to say I for one am very glad to be finished with this book. So bless your face and if you sneezed during this blog of recapitulation then bless you, peace off!!