Chapter 4: Teeth Everywhere

As the chapter unveiled, Shubin related the concept of teeth to a trap rather than an interesting discovery that enlightened Shubin to trace the innerfish among humans. Although he described the topic of teeth as shortly discussed, the way he looked at the tooth is similar to how he looked at the discovered fossils introduced in earlier chapters of the book. I noticed through the chapters that Shubin is more of a person who reaches into details rather than a person who looks a topic in a broad view. Therefore, through this insight, I was able to see why Shubin's new way of looking for fossils helped him to become less materialistic. Most importantly, I was befuddled by the fact that the other parts of the human bodies are similar to teeth. Furthermore, I was shocked to find out how Ostracoderms had an armor of bone for the head made of teeth. This example showed how significance of teeth can alter one's diet and survival. In result, although I was confused on how these theories were pragmatic, I was also enlightened by how small structures like teeth can define our lives today.

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.

CH. 4 Teeth Everywhere

This chapter seems to take both a step forward and back. It discusses the newly revealed importance of teeth, but does circle back to the idea of rocks and how they help make critical discoveries. Teeth, just like hands, have a major impact on understanding how humans came to be what they are today because of their variety of functions. I've always taken my teeth for granted and never really thought about how important they were to my everyday life, but now, after reading this week's chapter, I feel fully informed on their every detail in performance when I chew. I also had no idea that our front teeth were called incisors and that our middle teeth were called premolars. I didn't even know that if my upper and lower teeth didn't match perfect, that they would shatter. Because teeth are implanted into our bodies and interact with our tissues the same way breasts, feathers, and hairs do, teeth help scientists make assumptions about what those listed might have been like on an animal or human's body.

Besides my knowledge on teeth increasing, getting reminded about the importance of rocks and more was also interesting. I though it was a good idea how Neil Shubin told us that just like us, he had no idea how someone could distinguish a common piece of rubble, from pieces of bones and teeth. However, getting practice and experience in finding "something different" was what allowed him to accomplish an eye for it. At the end, it was fascinating how Shubin described that, "The biological processes that make these different organs are versions of the same thing". This is what made the idea that he has on evolution a little more clear. I am anticipating what new discoveries he will reveal and their connections to modern day as we continue to read Your Inner Fish.

Chapter Four: Teeth Everywhere

Until I read Chapter 4, I didn't expect to learn a lot about an animal by looking at its teeth. For instance, I recognized carnivores use their blade-like molars to cut meat whereas herbivores have flat teeth to feed on leaves. We humans on the other hand have several kinds of teeth which reveals that we are all-purpose eaters. I was amazed to discover that our teeth is the hardest part of our bodies for I've always believed our bones were the hardest. Moreover, before I encountered this chapter, I thought every living creature including humans merely chew however they want and differently in each bite. But this wasn't the case: there is a precision in which we chew. Again, I found Shubin very inspirational as he was earnestly determined to find a bone along with Chuck who, in contrast always had several bags of bones. He also continued to persist when he didn't find any fossil at Connecticut, and eventually found something grand, which made me admire him even more.

Chapter 4: Teeth Everywhere

To me, this chapter was not as interesting as the others. Compared to previous chapters, I was not as captivated. The structure of chapter four was not well planned. The beginning revolved around the discoveries that Shubin made and how his interest in paleontology came about, yet I felt that it was not necessary. His explanation was very detailed and long, yet in previous chapters he also talked and wrote of such things. Because it took more than half the chapter, I thought it to be a waste of time. If he had written a more brief, short page or two, I believe that it would have been more effective. This is because information on the importance of the teeth were lacking. Although he did explain it, some parts were confusing and too brief. But still, the information that was providing and was thoroughly explained surprised me and captivated me. How the process in which teeth are made are shared throughout the body was really interesting, even though it does not truly stay on the tangent of evolution. What I also enjoyed was how Shubin recaps the previous chapters, and tells how the book was organized. It helped me remember the previous and rethink of what Shubin said in them.

Chapter 4: Teeth Everywhere

The first thing Shubin mentions in this chapter is how teeth are one of the most important parts of a fossil. I would have never guessed that teeth were so important; i had never seen teeth in that sort of light. Also, when he says that before he couldn't find a single fossil but once he found one he could see them all, it made me think, "have I ever encountered a fossil?" Silly thought, but it's possible.

When he returns to school after his first expedition, he notes that he had developed the "expedition bug." Is it really that exciting to discover fossils? Then he starts talking about his second expedition, and says that they dug for two weeks, and that amazed me at how determined and patient paleontologists must be.

Another thing that interested me was what the tooth was made out of, a molecule called hydroxyapatite. He uses the comparison "trying to cut a steak with a sponge" (74). And i learned more about what enamel was and how different animals such as herbivores and carnivores have different types of teeth to help them crush and chew what they eat.

At first i thought this chapter would be boring, but i actually learned a lot from it. And i read it quite fast despite how long it was. I look forward to reading the next chapter.

-Shay Fajardo

Chapter 4: Teeth Everywhere

The first thing that I thought of when Shubin started talking about teeth was the television show Bones. In the show the scientists use the teeth to identify some of the murder victims and shows us much information about the person. It surprised me at first when he said that teeth are not well liked nor discussed by some. I would like to believe that teeth are more important than how he portrays them yet I am unaware of the true statistics of it.

It was unaware to me that teeth could macerate. Teeth seem to be very well needed in the paleontology area. From one tooth a paleontologist can tell whether or not the animal was a carnivore or a herbivore. This information could be very useful in a field where all you are working with is bones and scraps from millions of years ago.

Reptiles seem to have very different teeth than other mammals and fish do. With all there teeth so sharp and not aligned it would seem as though there teeth would almost hurt when they need (not that I would like to investigate on that). It is remarkable that reptiles are constantly replacing there teeth. IT makes me think as to how this process would occur. If their "old" teeth need to be pushed out in order for their "new" teeth to come in, how often does this process occur? Or does this come from different years in their life? This fact though would be very useful for reptiles since they are in constantly using their teeth in order to eat food that may wear down the sharpness of their teeth from time to time.

When Shubin is talking about Farish's team and how just by reading scientific articles and books they could predict where would be a good site or not is unreal to me. I thought that there would be more... more something. More research, more details, more information that would enable a team of scientists to go and work, but I assume that Farish's team is at the top of their game (or their prediction methods are just a hyperbole made by Shubin in order to show Farish's skills).

It made me feel really excited for Shubin when he found his first tooth in the rock. He described his struggles so fully that I could really relate to Shubin when in this chapter he talks about walking with Chuck. I feel the same as Shubin does when I'm in school. Except for my Chuck are my teachers and I am Shubin. Constantly asking questions and not understanding the answer given to me for the life of me. This shows me that Shubin didn't always know what to do and how to do it, just like everyone else he had to start somewhere in order to achieve greatness.

I thought it was very funny how after his first expedition with Chuck and Bill, Shubin thought that he was ready to fly solo. This trial and error shows how Shubin is growing throughout the book. Somehow it would seem as though we are not only learning about the history of humans and mammals, but also of Shubin and how he had evolved to be the paleontologist teaching anatomy that he is today. This trial and error also seemed to benefit him because he learned how some placed that would seem to have a lot of bones do not, and that one of the best places to work with is the coast line because of the water exposure to the rock minerals.

I could almost feel the excitement with Shubin and Bill as they uncovered the bones. After searching for months after end and to find the bones in the most unlikely of places would be a great shock and a good surprise to all. It just goes to show that sometimes good things come in the most unlikely places.

From the way that Shubin describes the teeth it makes it shound as though the teeth have their own history. Makes me think that we should have a whole study dedicated just to teeth, but isn't that dentistry? I don't know. Teeth can show so much about someone that it makes me think about one day paleontologists will be looking at my teeth and looking at how I used to be a sweet lover. It also shows that the mouth changes just as everything else to soot the needs of the animal. Even though an animals mouths are not the same doesn't mean that they are totally differently related from each other.

So I looked up conodonts because I wanted a better visual of them because they seemed quite interesting looking when Shubin described them. They aren't. They look like creepy crawly snakes that are almost a combination between snakes and snails. It would terrify me if I was the one to find them in the hundreds at once. I am somewhat confused by the thought that conodonts are teeth. Are they just teeth or are they just the evolution of an ancient jaw-less fish. They really don't explain this part to the fullest extent as I would have like.

I thought it was very interesting that teeth has changed from being something to bite another to defend against others. It shows how even though humans and many other animals use their teeth for eating and biting that ancient animals and maybe even animals that we are unaware of currently use their teeth for different purposes.