Your Inner Fish- Week 1

I chose the book, Your Inner Fish, because I thought it would be interesting to see how particular species, we would not think would have anything in common, are in fact, very closely related. Neil Shubin describes and characterizes the different organs of the human body by tracing them back millions of years ago, looking closely at the various evolutionary changes that have taken place. Shubin is able to depict that many species like those of fish, worms, and bacteria have certain similarities with humans. He does this by examining fossils and DNA. 

By reading this book, I am hoping to learn more about the molecular, developmental, and structural homologies between the many organisms that will be mentioned. I am really excited to learn more about characteristics that we have in common with other species. I am also looking forward to learning about how certain body parts evolved the way they did. I think the most interesting part of reading this book will be understanding why we have so many similarities with some organisms that, phenotypically, look nothing like us. 

I really like how the eleven chapters of the book are organized. Shubin will describe the anatomy of the body and the evolutionary aspects throughout the whole book while in the last chapter, The Meaning of It All, I am thinking he will tie in why everything is related the way it is. I also thought it was very interesting how the author, Neil Shubin, teaches as a medical school anatomy professor. I feel like by having this background, the way the book is written will be even more fascinating!