Hello.... I hope your summer is going well here is your first Assignment...
Read Chapters 2-3 (I would read 1 as well but you can skip it) and answer the following questions. Please post your answers on the blog and email me your answer as well in a WORD or GOOGLE doc. If you use WORD you will need to send the answer as an attachment and if you use GOOGLE just share it with me at wsilva@ebps.net.
It is important that you get comfortable with google.... because you will be using it almost every day in AP Biology.
Question #1
What does the author mean by "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs"? Name 4 organisms that have this "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs" type of anatomy. What would be a reason that these bones and blobs would be the same or different?
Question #2
What is the deal with the "Sonic the Hedgehog" gene. What is it function?
Question #3
Find the Quote or Paragraph in the either chapter 2 or 3 that you think is significant and explain why that you feel it is. Please type the quote and give the page number in your response.
Please post all your questions at one time on the blog.
HINT
ReplyDeleteType your answers in word or google... save it then copy and paste the text into the blog!
Jennie Reichenbach
DeleteAssignment #1
1. When the author states, “One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs”, he is referring to the basic pattern in bone structure of all limbs. Whether the limb is of an animal or a human, it will have this pattern. In the arm of a human, the “one bone” is the humerus, the “two bones” are the ulna and radius, followed by “the little blobs” which are the metacarpals and phalanges. Four organisms that have this type of anatomy are the bat, lizard, penguin, and humpback whale. A reason that these bones and blobs are the same is that they all come from a common ancestor that passed on this blueprint. A reason they are different is that although the structure is the same, the use of this structure is completely different between different organisms. For example, the human arm does not have the same function as a whale’s fin. The bones have adapted over time according to the organism’s habitat and survival needs.
2. The “Sonic Hedgehog” gene is the gene that causes different regions of a body to look different. It’s function is to make one end of a body segment look different from the other. If it weren’t for this gene, anyone could be born with extra fingers or thumbs that looked like pinkies and vice versa.
3. Shubin writes, “Tabin’s lab used work in flies to find a gene in chickens that tells us about human birth defects.” (59) This quote in the last paragraph of chapter three is significant because it sums up how all organism’s relate to each other. It shows that the information found from experiments on one species can dramatically affect and even help find out more about a different species. There are so many unknown connections between creatures waiting to be discovered.
Jennie,
DeleteThat seems like a great quote. I agree that DNA is the chemical link to all life on Earth.... blah
Kara Marx
ReplyDeleteJuly 18, 2013
1) The author means that in an animal's limbs there is a series of bones that follow the "one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs" structure. All mammals have this structure, such as humans, whales, cats, and apes. This bone structure is the same in these creatures because they all evolved from the same species. They are different because that specific bone structure can be used for different things such as a whale's flipper, a cat's legs, and a human's arm.
2)The Sonic the Hedgehog Gene has critical roles in the development of many systems of including limbs, midline structure of the brain, spinal cord, teeth, and the thalamus.
3)"The differences between creatures lie in differences in shapes a d sizes of the bones and the numbers of blobs, fingers, and toes. Despite radical changes in what limbs do and what they look like, this underlying blueprint is always present." (Shubin 31). It is significant because affects all creatures with fingers and toes, including me.
I love that quote!
DeleteKara chose a significant quote because it shows that even though there are minor differences between creatures, we all consist of the same bone pattern. The use of our hands is different than the use of a penguin's flipper, but there is always a common link.
DeleteI believe that Kara chose a great quote because it shows that even though all creatures limbs look or function different they all share the common structure. Human hands may function different bat wings, but when you look at the bone structure they are so similar and follow the same pattern.
DeleteKara's quote pretty much sums up the entire assignment of week one. The quote describes the basic meaning of the "one bone, two bone, little blob" structure, and how it is found in all creatures with phalanges in the same way.
DeleteRachel Tattrie
ReplyDeleteJuly 18, 2013
Question #1:
When the author says “One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs”, he is talking about the pattern of bones similar to all animals that have limbs. When looking at the skeletal structure of different types of animals, and even humans, it becomes clear that they all share this common “one bone followed by two bones, then lotsa blobs” pattern. Four examples of organisms that all share this type of anatomy are penguins, lizards, birds, and bats. A reason that these bones and blobs would be the same in different animals would be because they share a common ancestor.
Question #2:
The function of the Sonic the Hedgehog gene is to make one region of the body different from the other regions.
Question #3:
“Finally, the full complement of wrist and ankle bones found in a human hand or foot is seen in reptiles more than 250 million years old. The basic skeleton of our hands and feet emerged over hundreds of millions of years, first in fish and later in amphibians and reptiles”(42). I think this quote is significant because it explains how many species, including us humans, have all developed from similar ancestors. The different bones we possess that help us to perform everyday tasks such as walking, throwing, and grasping, first showed up in animals tens to hundreds of millions years before humans came along.
I think Rachel chose a significant quote because it shows the history of our bones. It compares our bones to the bones of animals, proving that we all evolved from a common ancestor. The patterns of our bones showed up long before we ever existed in the bodies of fish, emphasizing the point of the book.
Delete1.) Rachel’s quote is significant because it is the basics of evolution. The fact that we share a common ancestor with fish and reptiles is so bizarre but scientifically proven because they share the same blue prints for our hands and feet. This quote proves that even though we did not exist 250 million years ago the basic skeleton of our hands and feet did.
DeleteI think Rachel's quote is great because it explains in the simplest terms how our bones came to be. Our bone pattern existed in fish long before we evolved into the current state we're in, which is basically what this whole book is about.
DeleteI think Rachel's quote is significant because it shows that we share a common ancestor with fish and reptiles. It shows that our bone patterns existed millions of years ago and it has evolved with the different animals but the bones still have the same basic structures.
DeleteMikayla Kingman
ReplyDeleteAP BIO QUESTIONS: July 18, 2013
Question #1
When the author talks about one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs he is taking about he is talking about the pattern to the skeleton of a human arm or leg. He compared this pattern to a diversity of skeletons in the world. Four organisms that have this structure are humans, bat wings, horses, and frog legs. The reason these bones or blobs would be the same or different is the differences in shapes or sizes of the bones and number of blobs. Although not all the structures in pattern are the same the underlying blueprint is always present.
Question #2
The Sonic hedgehog was a research of chicken’s DNA for the hedgehog sequence. The function of the Sonic hedgehog is the gene activity the ZPA. Every limbed animal has the Sonic hedgehog gene. This gene acts to sculpt our limbs from shoulders to fingertip by turning on and off at the right time. If ZPA does not act correctly a mutation in the structure of fingers would form as a malformation.
Question #3
I feel this paragraph in chapter three is significant, We begin with an apparent puzzle. Our body is made up of hundreds of different kinds of cells. The cellular diversity gives our tissues and organs their distinct shapes and functions. The cells that make our bones, nerves, guts, and so on look and behave entirely differently. Despite their differences, there is a deep similarity among every cell inside our bodies: all of them contain exactly the same DNA. If DNA contains the information to build our bodies, tissues, and organs, how is it different as those found in muscle, nerve, and bone contain the same DNA?(page 45) I feel this paragraph was important because it explains how everything in our body is given a specific DNA. Although the cells in our body function differently each piece has the same exact DNA. Since most things are found through DNA this is an important piece through the structure of our body.
It is amazing that there are hundreds of different cells in the body and they all have the same instructions!
DeleteI think mikayla picked a great passage from the story. It shows how complicated our system is but how every cell has similarities and the appearance can be different.
Delete1. The author means that there is a pattern to the skeleton of both humans and animals. Penguins, eagles, giraffes, and monkeys all follow the “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” structure. This specific type of anatomy is the same in all the creatures mentioned because they all evolved from the same species. They differ so that certain organisms can adapt to their surroundings and use this structure to their full advantage.
ReplyDelete2. The Sonic hedgehog is found in every body, animal or human. This gene is active in the ZPA tissue and plays a crucial role while a child develops in the womb. The sonic hedgehog works with our limbs from shoulder to fingertip alongside any limbed animal.
3.”In retrospect, the moment when I first saw the wrist of a fish was as meaningful as the first time I unwrapped the fingers of the cadaver back in the human anatomy lab. Both times I was uncovering a deep connection between my humanity and another being.” (43) I found this quote very interesting because it truly shows “your inner fish” and how alike we are to something so different from us.
I agree that this is a significant quote because it truly does capture the general consensus on the comparisons between humans and fish. Because DNA and genes are not visible to the naked eye, it can be somewhat understandable that people and fish could be similar when concerning DNA. But realizing that we share a body part such as a wrist with a fish certainly is astounding and almost unbelievable.
DeleteQuestion #1: When the author says, "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs," he is describing the basic blueprints of limbs found in all humans and animals with limbs. Four organisms that follow the pattern, "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs," are seals, lizards, bats, and penguins. These bones and blobs vary in every organism because of their habitat, food supply, shelter, etc. However, the pattern is the same in different species because of common ancestors.
ReplyDeleteQuestion #2: The Sonic hedgehog gene is a gene that is present in every organism that has limbs. The Sonic hedgehog gene is the same as the ZPA and is active in the ZPA tissue. The Sonic hedgehog gene is one of many that helps sculpt our limbs from the shoulder to the fingertip. Every organism needs the Sonic hedgehog gene to turn on and off at the right time during development. If the Sonic hedgehog gene did not perform as it should at the right time a hand would have extra fingers or there would be some other type of mutation on the hands.
Question #3: Neil Shubin writes,” There isn’t just a single fish inside our limbs; there is a whole aquarium, “(41). This quote is significant because it sums up everything that these paleontologists believe in. Our limbs have progressed because of evolution in fish. The lungfish for example had one bone at the base. Then fish such as, Eusthenopteron, have a one bone- two bones pattern. Further, there are fish such as, Tiktaalik which have the one bone-two bones- lotsa blobs. These three examples of various fish show that in our own limbs there are many different types of fish. This quote is our inner fish, literally.
Good quote!
DeleteBriana chose a very significant quote because it proves that the body of a fish did not stop at its original makeup.Over time, it needed to change and adapt from previous structures to coincide with its environmental status. Based upon their needs, the bodily makeup of the fish needed to alter to then transfer its advancements to eventually evolve into the human body we have come to know today.
DeleteThis quote is significant because it talks about evolution and how our link to our past is not through one species but many different kinds of animals. Our inner fish in reality is not one fish but many fish that have evolved through millions of years.
DeleteMelissa Sybertz Assignment 1 AP Biology questions July 19th 2013
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1
What does the author mean by "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs"? Name 4 organisms that have this "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs" type of anatomy. What would be a reason that these bones and blobs would be the same or different?
The author is referring to the way an organism’s arm is set up. For example in humans we have a humerus (one bone ) then a radius and ulna (two bones) then our carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges (little blobs). Along with humans, other organisms that have this setup are seals,lizards,humpback whales,penguins,and bats. One reason that these organisms would have same bones and blobs might be that they share a common ancestor. Or if they are different they wouldn’t have a common ancestor.
Question #2
What is the deal with the "Sonic the Hedgehog" gene. What is it function?
The Sonic Hedgehog gene made one end of a body segment look different from the other when found in a fruit fly. This is what they found happened similarly to ZPA in chickens. This gene is one of many that act to sculpt limbs. The sonic hedgehog gene is “turned on” during the eighth week of development of a human, if it is not turned on at the right time then extra fingers will grow or your thumb and pinky will look identical.
Question #3
Find the Quote or Paragraph in the either chapter 2 or 3 that you think is significant and explain why that you feel it is. Please type the quote and give the page number in your response.
“Tiktaalik was able to ‘drop and give us twenty’ ” (page 40). This quote is significant because it’s mind boggling how a 375-million-year-old fish could have a wrist. To think that we share similarities with another organism who is that old just seems crazy.
This is a great quote because this really shows how we come from a common ancestor. The idea of a fish having a wrist is incredible. It is an excellent example of evolution and how things change over time.
DeleteThis quote is significant because it shows that like humans other organisms can have human-like features, like a wrist. The idea of a fish having the same qualities as a human is crazy considering how we see fish to be so different than humans.
DeleteThis quote is significant because it shows our human qualities aren't anything new to this world but just a slightly revised copy of our ancestors anatomy.It helps solidify the concept of evolution and how our body contains an "inner fish."
Deletethis is a great quote! To me this quote gives people a real life comparison of how animals are related through common ancestory. I also think it is important for people to understand this concept because it is something that majorly contributes to mos of the information we have about the human body today.
DeleteQuestion 1
ReplyDeleteWhen the author states, “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs”, he means that this is the similar pattern of bone structure that creatures with limbs have. All creatures with limbs have this design, including birds, seals, whales, and lizards. A reason why all the bones are the same or different is because they were all created from a common ancestor, but they vary in shape, size, and other appearances based on their habitats and ways for survival.
Question 2
The “Sonic Hedgehog” gene was first discovered with experiments on flies. This gene makes parts of the body with the same DNA sequence form differently. It is active in the ZPA tissue and it forms our body by turning on and off at the correct times.
Question 3
The author states, “All appendages, whether they are fins or limbs, are built by similar kinds of genes” (58). This is significant because it shows that even though some creatures may have nothing else in common, their DNA all have the same origin. During evolution DNA did not change and the origin stayed the same. Organisms come from common ancestors and have similarities within their DNA, showing that we are all connected.
I think Paige chose a very significant quote from the book because it emphasizes that all organisms come from a common ancestor in some way, even if it is not physical. Paige uses the quote to explain that DNA did not change during the evolution of the organisms and that it is similar throughout all species of organisms.
DeleteI think the quote Paige chose was significant because even though some creatures don't share an ancestor, DNA works in the same way to "build" these creatures' body structures. The organisms may look different through appearance, but they can be connected through DNA.
DeleteThis quote is very significant because it shows that we all have a common ancestor and there will be similarities between many different creatures. It sums up nicely that we are all built from the same kind of genes showing that organisms are connected.
DeleteI believe Paige's quote is significant because it proves we are all a little bit the same. Although, our looks and habits differ from one another as humans animals there is that small connection through DNA that can link us all together.
DeleteAnswer 1:
ReplyDeleteThe Author is talking about the bone structure of limbs when he says 1 bone, two bones, lotsa blobs, digits. The structure of most organisms' limbs is one bone, the upper part of the limb, followed by two bones, the fore-part of the limb, and the the lotsa blobs is the wrist or ankle of the organism. Four organisms that share this pattern are Humans, Frogs, Lizards, and Lions. A reason these organisms would share this pattern is because all of the limbs serve the same basic function. A human leg serves the same purpose to a human as a frog leg does to a frog. The limbs are not exactly the same but the pattern is common in all of them.
Answer 2
The Sonic Hedgehog Gene controls the development of the fingers and toes. It is released from the ZPA and depending on how far away the digit is, the finger or toe that develops is different. If you place it on both sides of the nub that is to be the limb, the limb will duplicate itself at the wrist forming a mirror image.
Answer 3
One quote I feel is significant is in chapter 3, page 57. The author writes that "Sonic hedgehog has a similar effect in even the most different kinds of appendage skeletons found on earth today." The gene works on both skate fins and chicken wings, as well as flys, who don't even have an internal skeleton. This means that all animals must share a common ancestor, however distant. It also shows that although organisms are extremely different from each other, they are also a lot alike.
I agree with Tristen that this quote is significant because the Sonic Hedgehog gene is proof that all living things with appendage skeletons have something in common. This is also evidence that shows that all living things evolved from a common ancestor.
DeleteJen Rearick
ReplyDeleteJuly 19th, 2013
Question 1
When the author says “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” he is referring to the bone structure pattern that all organisms with limbs follow. The limbs of every creature follow this design of “one bone two bones, the little blobs” even if their limbs look completely different on the outside. Some organisms that follow this limb pattern are frogs, seals, lizards, and whales. These organisms have such a similar limb structure because they share a common ancestor, but over time they each evolved and adapted to suit the environment the live in.
Question 2
The Sonic hedgehog gene was discovered during experiments on chickens, scientists discovered that the gene was active in the ZPA tissue. Every organism with limbs has the Sonic hedgehog gene that turns on and off (active and then not active) at just the right time to help sculpt its limbs. The activity of the Sonic hedgehog gene mimics ZPA’s activity pattern which causes it to turn on and off and cause segments of organisms limbs look different from each other. For example in humans it helps the thumb and pinky look different. Any mutation of the gene, in humans, can cause extra fingers or can cause a pinky and a thumb that look the same.
Question 3
I find it significant when Neil Shubin wrote, “Proceed from Tiktaalik to amphibians all the way to mammals, and one thing becomes abundantly clear: the earliest creature to have the bones of our upper arm, our forearm, even our wrists and palm, also had scales and fin webbing. That creature was a fish.” I find this quote significant because it shows how humans have a similar limb structure to a fish that lived 375- million years ago. A human limb, or something very similar, existed over 300-million years ago in fish. This evidence if proof of a common ancestor between humans and fish.
Evolution is a great thing and can almost go in any direction!
DeleteI think this is a good choice for a significant quote. I think this because i agree with the original answer, that it is astounding to think that we share traits with a 300-million year old fish. This just goes to show that we, as humans, still have traits that were originally from an animal that spent most of its time swimming in the water
DeleteI think Jen chose a very significant quote because amphibians and mammals can be linked to these common traits of this creature. It shows how much a creature can evolve over time, and it's hard to think that there is a common ancestor between humans and fish when they don't look similar in appearance.
DeleteAndrea Damon
ReplyDeleteJuly 20, 2013
1.) When the author writes “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” he is referring to the pattern of the skeleton that is similar in creatures that possess limbs. In the case of a human, it would be an arm or leg, for a humpback whale and penguin it would be the flipper, and the bat and its wing. These four organisms share alike designs for their limbs because they all evolved from a common ancestor. Their differences would be in the shape, size, and the quantity of the bones, even though the structure is consistent.
2.) The Hedgehog gene, originally discovered in the bodies of flies, made one region of the body different from another in the same way that ZPA makes the pinky different from the thumb. The chicken version of this gene is known as the Sonic Hedgehog. Every limbed animal has this particular gene. Sonic Hedgehog, active in the ZPA tissue, is turned “on” and “off”at certain times during development to sculpt from the shoulder region to the fingertips.
3.) I believe that this quote holds significance, “We can trace many of the structures of our own limbs to the fins of these fish. Bend your writ back and forth. Open and close your hand. When you do this, you are using joints that first appeared in the fins of fish like Tiktaalik. Earlier, these joints did not exist. Later, we find them in limbs” (Shubin 41). It is comparing our limbs to the limbs of ancient fish, emphasizing that we have an “inner fish” that changed through the passage of time. The insanely complex human body can be traced back to the times where fishes like Tiktaalik existed, showing an important commonality between different creatures.
I think the quote that Andrea chose was a very significant one because it helps to explain how the limbs in our body have developed from our ancestors, such as fish like Tiktaalik. This quote really helps to connect the similarity of our bones to the bones of fish and other creatures that lived many years ago.
DeleteI agree with Andrea that this quote is significant because it fits into the theme of the book that are ancestry can relate all the way back to fish. The quote shows the connection between the wrists in humans and the wrists in a fish.
DeleteI find this quote significant because it explains that this ancient fish was a turning point in the evolutionary process. I find it amazing to think about the fact that, although evolutionary changes obviously occurred very gradually, there is an identifiable point where a feature so significant and essential to our daily lives just 'appeared' on the evolutionary map -to think that without this ancient fish, our lives could be so incredibly different from what they are today.
Delete1. When the author mentions the, "One bone, followed by two bone, the little blobs”, he is referring to the similar bone structure that organisms have. Four organisms, along with humans, with this type of anatomy are seals, birds, lizards, and bats. The bones and blobs are similar because they share a common ancestor however they are not identical because overtime organisms evolve according to their needs for survival.
ReplyDelete2. “Sonic Hedgehog” gene was first discovered in experiments involving flies. Its function is to make one end of the body segment look different from another. Scientists noted that its function is similar to ZPA, causing them to create more experiments on chickens, fish and mice. Through those experiments, scientists concluded that every organisms has a sonic hedgehog gene. Every organism turns on and off this gene at a specific time during development. For humans, the gene is turned on at eight weeks into development.
3. “Tabin’s lab used work in flies to find a gene in chickens that tell us about human birth defects.” (pg59). Although this sentence is short, it is significant in my eyes because it reveals what many people often do not think of, organisms have similar origins. It may seem strange to some that a humans have similar genes as flies or chickens, but through experiments conducted by scientists have shown that organisms all have similar ancestors. I find this line significant because it is strange to think that all organisms have similar DNAs and genes and originated from common ancestors.
Jen, I feel this quote is also significant because it truly shows how many animals are related. Although all animals may have a complete different structure, I feel this quote gets through to me that there is atleast something we as humans have the same inside us, compared to all other animals.
DeleteI think Jen chose a significant quote because it shows how animals are connected to us. An animals body,genes, and bones may have a different structure but have the same concept as human.
DeleteQuestion 1:
ReplyDeleteWhen the author states, "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs" he is talking about the skeletal structure of a limb. Birds, lizards, penguins, and seals are all examples of animals that have this skeletal structure in their limbs. The bones and blobs in this structure look a little different depending on the environment the animal lives in and what they need their limbs for.
Question 2:
The sonic hedgehog gene was originally found in flies. It was called the hedgehog name until it was discovered in chickens and then it was given the name sonic hedgehog gene. This gene is responsible for separate regions of the body developing differently. When the gene is turned on it develops the limbs. For example the sonic hedgehog gene develops fingers. The thumb develops differently from all of the other fingers because it is the farthest away from the gene and therefore it looks a lot different.
Question 3:
The quote that I believe is the most significant is, "Tabin's lab used work in flies to find a gene in chickens that tells is about human birth defects." (Shubin 59) I believe this quote is significant because it summarizes the entire third chapter and it also fits into the theme of the book because it shows that all living things are deeply connected and that they all arrived from a common ancestor.
I, too, like this quote in that it does summarize the third chapter of YIF. It connects all three of the animals together and ties the experiments back in with the theme of the book: evolutionary ancestors.
DeleteQuestion 1: "One bone followed by two bones, then little blobs” refers to “the common plan for all limbs”, according to the book. One bone, such as the humerus, connects with two bones, which attach to small blobs. The blobs then connect to some type of fingers or toes. There are numerous animals that possess this bone pattern. Seals, penguins, and lizards are four notable examples. The “bones and blobs” are the same in the sense that they are the basic blueprint of the limbs of the animal, and the animals share a common ancestor. The differences among the “bones and blobs” of, say, a human and a bat, are present because of the specific function of the limb. Whales need a more paddle-like limb to swim, while a bird needs a limb to create a kite-like wing. The size of the bones and the number of blobs changes based on what is necessary to thrive.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: “Sonic the hedgehog” is a fly gene (though it is found in other animals as well) that causes one end of the body segment look different than the other. The “Sonic the hedgehog” gene works in a similar way as ZPA does.
Question 3: Shubin writes, “The “inner fish” that Randy found was not a single bone, or even a section of the skeleton. Randy’s inner fish lay in the biological tools that actually build fins” (58). This quote explains the title of the book. Though humans do not have a literal inner fish inside them, that is, we don’t have a bone structure exactly like that of a fish, we share certain DNA. Limbs, whether fins or arms and legs, are built by similar kinds of genes. The inner fish that is inside of us is the DNA that made shark fins before it helped make us. Research into the inner fish reveals information about all sorts of animals reaching far beyond just fish. DNA was never deleted during evolution. What changed was the way that DNA was utilized.
I agree that this quote is relevant because it is related to the entire scheme of the novel. It sums up how not only humans, but all animals have an inner fish. We are all connected.
Delete1). The author means that all animals with limbs that have bones have the same general blueprint of 1 bone connected to the shoulder, then two bones connected to that, then blob like bones that make up the wrist. Sir Richard Owen discovered this when he examined human anatomy and then compared it to many other kinds of animals. Four types of animals that use this structure in their limbs are the seal, the penguin, the lizard, and the bat. A reason why these bones and blobs would be similar or different is because the limbs in different animals are used for either the same or different purposes while still using the same blueprint.
ReplyDelete2). The Sonic the Hedgehog gene is a specialized gene that helps distinguish and build the right structures on a body at the right times. The Sonic Hedgehog gene acts like ZPA. When vitamin A is applied to a system where ZPA tissue is active, the ZPA becomes active on the opposite side of the system. When you map where the Sonic the hedgehog gene is active when you add vitamin A, it is active on both sides of the system allowing for distinguished growth of limbs, and makes sure the limbs are unique. For example, the Sonic Hedgehog gene makes sure you don’t end up with 5 thumbs of one hand; it makes sure you have a thumb, index, middle, ring and pinky finger. Essentially the Sonic Hedgehog gene makes sure different parts of the body are in fact, different.
3). One paragraph at the end of chapter 2 is significant to me. “Do the facts of our ancient history mean that humans are not special or unique among living creatures? Of course not. In fact, knowing something about the deep origins of humanity only adds to the remarkable fact of our existence: all of our extraordinary abilities arose from basic components that evolved in ancient fish and other creatures. From common parts came a very unique construction. We are not separate from the rest of the living world; we are part of it down to our bones; and as we will see shortly, our genes.”(43) I feel like this quote is significant because it sums up the fact that humans are part of the world, are not special and share the same structural traits as all other limbed animals. Also, it tells us that we are not just structurally similar, but even our genes are similar to other animals, even further revealing that we are not so special after all.
Great job Ian... we are only one small part of a huge picture!
DeleteGood job ian. I really like this quote and was almost thinking about using it myself. The quote shows that we, as humans, are just complex fish, fortunate enough to have delveloped the way we did from such a basic blueprint. We aren't all that special as a species and as organisms when you really think about it. We are a just a small percentage of all the organisms out there lucky enough to have developed the way we did.
DeleteQuestion 1. “One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” is the pattern that can be found in all limbs. It means that there is one bone connected to two other bones and then followed with different amounts of little blobs. In the human arm it begins with the humerus, followed by the ulna and the radius, and the blobs are the wrist bones and fingers. A seal, a penguin, a humpback whale, and a lizard all have the “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” structure. A reason that these bones would look similar or different would be based on whether or not they had a common ancestor.
ReplyDeleteQ 2. Scientists noticed a gene that made one end if a body segment look different from the other and decided to call it hedgehog. They found this hedgehog in flies originally but when they looked for the gene in chickens they called it the Sonic hedgehog. It was originally named hedgehog because the gene’s bristles made it look like a hedgehog. By making segments of the body look different the Sonic hedgehog prevents humans from having extra finger or our thumb and pinky would look alike. The gene helps to sculpt our limbs.
Q3 “But there is a deeper beauty to these experiments on limbs and fins. Tabin’s lab used work in flies to find a gene in chickens that tells us about human birth defects. Randy used the Tabin lab discovery to tell us something about our connection to skates. An ‘inner fly’ helped us find an ‘inner chicken’, which ultimately helped Randy find an “inner skate”. The connections among living creatures run deep.” (59) This quote is significant because it makes me think that we all have a common ancestor. I also find it interesting to see all of the information he gathered put together to show an example of how we are descended from animals essentially.
This quote is significant because it shows how nature is not made of singular things that are completely different from one another. An experiment on one animal can show things about an animals from hundreds of years ago. Like the quote says, there is an inner connection among all things, no matter how different they appear.
DeleteI like this quote because it makes the readers think. It brings up a significant point:There is something that connects all things. Which when you think about it is pretty cool, considering that you could have two things that seem like polar opposites such as a fly and a skate. But the they are not as different as they seem because they have some sort of connection some where along the line.
DeleteI also believe this quote is significant because its fascinating to think that everyone came from a common ancestor. Now in 2013 you wouldn't imagine two things to be so similar and come from the same thing due to everything evolving. This quote shows that there are connections between things that we would think to be total opposites.
DeleteQuestion 1:
ReplyDeleteWhen the author says “one bone, two bones, lots of blobs” this refers to the human skeletal structure, and other structures similar to the human skeleton. In the human skeleton, from the shoulder, the bones go in the order of one bone, the humerus to two bones the radius and the ulna, to a bunch of blobs, the eight bones in the wrist or carpals. There is the same bone structure from the hip, one bone the femur, to two bones the tibia and fibia, to a bunch of blobs the tarsals.
Four organisms that have this type of structure are whales, horses, humans, and cheetahs.
A reason that these bones and blobs would be the same is that they all came from one ancient ancestor with the same skeletal structure. A reason that these bones would be different would be because the organisms came from different ancestors.
Question 2:
The function of the sonic hedgehog genes are to make different parts of a body segment different from each other. This prevents humans from having abnormal amounts of fingers or toes and keeps our pinky different from our thumb. Scientists performed this experiment on chicks to find out what the sonic hedgehog was.
Question 3:
“And, as we were to learn, this was no ordinary fish fin: it clearly had lots of bones inside. People in the lab spent about a month removing the fin from the boulder- and there, exposed for the first time, was a fish with Owen’s pattern. Closest to the body was one bone. This one bone attached to two bones. Extending away from the fin were about eight rods. This looked for all the world like a fish with fingers.” This quote, on page 36, explains how Owen’s theory is true! This shows the first fish finding with the same skeletal structure as humans. When the lab workers found the lungfish, a fish with lungs, they realized that we must have came form the same ancestor as fish. Finding an older fish, with the same or similar skeletal structure proves that we must have came from the same ancestor.
This quote is signifigant because it describes a scientific discovery that helped close the gap and prove Owen's theory. It is discoveries like this that bring us closer to proving and making sense of the trail of evolution
DeleteAlyssa Baldwin
ReplyDeleteAP Bio Questions
July 21st 2013
1)When the author is referring to the "One bone, two bone, little blob" sequence he is referring to the phenomenon that occurs within mammals. This phenomenon is the fact that almost all mammals have the same structure in their arm. More specifically, the first bone (the humerus in humans) is then connected to two more bones (ulna and radius) which is in turn connected to many other bones (the "blob") right up to the hand. This can be seen in most mammals including humans, dogs, penguins and seals all have this anatomy. These are generally the same structure because of the common ancestry between all mammals but they have also changed overtime to be more suited for the environments that the animals live in.
2)The Sonic Hedgehog gene helps to sculpt the different parts of the arm, from shoulder to fingertips. It ensures that our pinky finger and thumb are created differently and is vital in the development of embryos in the womb. When this gene is mutated or does not work correctly it causes malfunctions in the animal, including the creation of extra appendages.
3)"For Owen, seeing a design in the limbs was only the beginning: when he looked at skulls and backbones, indeed what he considered the entire architecture of the body, he found the same thing. There is a fundamental design in the skeletons of all animals. Frogs, bats, humans, and lizards are all just variations on a theme. That theme, to Own, was the plan of the Creator." (page 25 on the ebook). This passage is significant to me because it ties up the basis of the book- that all animals and species have a common ancestor. This one passage wraps all that up and I especially like the sentence "Frogs, Bats, humans and lizards are all variations on a theme" because for me this sentence speaks to the want of human nature, to belong to something. And this passage, to me, proved that we are connected to the world around us in more than just a physical way- genetically.
Molly Lovell 7/21/13
ReplyDelete1. When the author states, "one bone followed by two bones, then little blobs" he is referring to limbs of animals and the similar structures they have. Four organisms that have this structure pattern are bats, birds, humans, and seals. The reason the bones may appear slightly different is because each organism has evolved differently for specific purposes unique to their environment. For example, the limbs of humans have evolved to allow for fine motor skills, while bats' thin, long bones allow them to fly.
2)The Sonic the Hedgehog gene is a gene that can be found in the basically every insect, animal, and human. It was first discovered in flies. The "Sonic" gene is active in the ZPA tissue and helps to "sculpt" each part of the body differently.
3)"The reason the wing of a bat and the arm of a human share a common skeletal pattern is because they shared a common ancestor" (pg 25). This quote stuck out to me as fascinating because thinking that I evolved from the same thing as a bat is really cool. The fact that two distinctly different mammals that each do very different things share a common ancestor shows how interesting and complex the world is.
The differences and similarities allow us to create a relationship map of organisms called a cladogram.... AKA a family Tree
DeleteI also find that particular quote interesting and thought-provoking. Though we use our arms in different ways than bats use their wings, the basic blueprint for the construction is the same. It's a blueprint that works and is versatile.
DeleteI to found this quote to be very interesting and unique. It stuck out to me because when you look at how all organisms, especially ourselves, and how we as a species developed over time, compared to how other organisms and species developed its almost too difficult to realize or understand that we are like many other organisms and have the same basic blueprint. Its just hard to picture that we developed from the same common ancestor as say, a bat. One flies while the other walks and grabs; this quote just makes me realize the versatility and effectiveness that this basic blueprint has had for such a long period of time, and for so many organisms.
Delete2.) Molly’s quote is quite interesting because it shows how we have similar ties to a bat, a creature that evolved to fly but has the same limb pattern as us. So it is interesting to know that we share a common ancestor with bats considering we are so very different from them.
DeleteI think Molly's quote is significant because it shows how humans and bats share a common ancestor even though humans use their limbs to hold objects and bats use their limbs to fly. Even though the limbs of humans and bats appear different on the outside the bones on the inside look so similar, which proves they share a common ancestor.
DeleteI find Molly's quote to be significant because it shows how the bodies of humans connect to those of bats. Based upon the common skeletal structure, it is evolutionary evidence that the human body that of the bat evolved from ancestors who were commonly related. It is interesting to think that creatures which we may view so differently from ourselves are very much the same.
DeleteI think that Molly's quote is significant because it shows the relationship between humans and bats. even though we have different uses for our limbs, the quote shows that we shared a common ancestor.
DeleteThis quote is significant because it is the point where Shubin makes the connection between theories and research and what the actual cause of the common skeletal structure in humans and animals. He makes it known that the reason for it is because they have a common ancestor.
DeleteDayna Marchant
ReplyDeleteAP Bio questions
Ch. 2 and 3
1. When the author mentions “one bone followed by two bones, then little blobs” he is referring to the fact that almost all mammals have this structure in their arm, where there humerus, in humans, is connected to the radius and the ulna, then to many other bones, all the way down to the hand. Four organisms that have this structure are seals, bats, birds and humans. In most mammals that have this structure, the structure may appear differently because as the organism evolves its structural make up is fit to help the mammal adapt to its own environment.
2. The “Sonic Hedgehog” gene was first discovered in flies. Its function is to make one end of the body segment look different from another. For example, the same way the ZPA tissue makes your pinky look different from your thumb.
3. When Neil Shuban writes, “There isn’t just a single fish inside our limbs; there is a whole aquarium.” (41) I feel this truly sums up how much alike all animals can be, something the paleontologists worked hard to discover. When he states this here I feel he is trying to get through to the reader that although all animals have different structures and make ups, it’s important to remember there is one thing all different things evolved
I think this quote Dayna chose is significant because it really emphasizes how we are related to other animals in our structures. It's mind boggling how such different living thing that swims as a living can have such similar structures to humans that live on land
DeleteDayna, great example used in questiont two. It gave me a different comparison that I could picture in my mind. I loved your quote because it displays our "inner fish" perfectly. I agree that the writer really is trying to make a break through with this quote and stress the amazing discovery of how alike fish are to humans.
DeleteQuestion One:
ReplyDeleteWhen the author says, “One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs,” he is referring to a human arm containing the one bone (humerus), two bone (radius and ulna) and little blobs (carpels). Animals containing limbs also have this structure so when the author says this, he is describing limbs on a basic scale that is easy to follow. Organisms such as wales, humans, birds and dogs all have the “one bone, followed by two bones, the little blobs structure to them. These bones in organisms might look the same or similar due to a common ancestor with the same structure. They might look different due to all organisms changing overtime to fit their environment.
Question Two:
The Sonic Hedgehog gene helps to construct the different parts of the arm. It certifies that the pinky finger will look different from the thumb and is needed in the development of embryos. Scientists first preformed this experiment on flies, than later on chicken eggs to find out how the sonic hedgehog helped with development. Without this, it could cause abnormal structures throughout the arm, causing too many fingers or causing your pinky and thumb to look alike.
Question Three:
“When we took the fin of Tiktaalik apart, we found something truly remarkable: all the joint surfaces were extremely well preserved. Tiktaalik has a shoulder, elbow and wrist composed of the same bones as an upper arm, forearm and wrist in a human. When we study the structure of these joints to assess how one bone moves against another, we see that Tiktaalik was specialized for a rather extraordinary function: it was capable of doing push-ups”(39). This quote in chapter two is significant because it shows us that even fish have similar structures as humans and it proves that we all came from a common ancestor and evolved overtime. Its also fascinating that a fish is capable of doing push ups, due to the bone structures in their arms.
I believe that this quote is important because this shows how fossils work and it shows the preservation of the fossils in the rocks. This quote also shows the relation between the arm of an ancient fish and the arm of a human
DeleteQuestion 1: What does the author mean by "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs"? Name 4 organisms that have this "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs" type of anatomy. What would be a reason that these bones and blobs would be the same or different?
ReplyDeleteWhat the author means by "one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs" is that in the structure of a limb, there is one larger bone in which further connects to two smaller bones. From these two smaller bones are many more, even smaller bones that look like little blobs. For example, the human leg. The femur connects to the tibia and fibia in which further connect to tarpals, metatarpals, and phalangies. The structure starts with one bigger bone, goes on to two more bones, and ends with many smaller bones. This is a common design in which the architecture is the same for all like limbs. Four organisms that have this type of anatomy are humans, lizards, seals, and bats. These bones and blobs would be the same because they come from a common ancestor. Also, because it is the same limb in each animal such as an arm or leg. These bones and blobs would be different because they are completely different animals in which their limbs are different shapes and sizes.
Question 2: What is the deal with the "Sonic the Hedgehog" gene. What is it function?
The Sonic Hedgehog gene is the chicken version of a gene in which makes one region of the body develop differently from the other, more specifically, the fingers. This gene is the same as the ZPA, the zone of polarizing activity. Every limbed animal has this gene and it is active in ZPA tissue. The function of this gene is that it develops the fingers distinct from one another. It makes sure each finger is developed correctly and properly. Many different organisms share this gene and it works the same way in each organism no matter how different. For example, human hands, chicken limbs, and shark fins all possess this similar Sonic the Hedgehog gene.
Question 3: Find the Quote or Paragraph in the either chapter 2 or 3 that you think is significant and explain why that you feel it is. Please type the quote and give the page number in your response.
Neil Shubin writes in chapter 2 on page 38, "We were staring at the origin of a piece of our own bodies inside this 375-million-year-old fish." This quote emphasizes our inner fish, literally. Our own bones come from fish that lived millions of years ago. These fish were our ancestors in which also connects us to many other living things through our own blueprints. Although humans seem completely different from ancient fish, we are the same in our bones. This is our inner fish.
So true and the fish owes it to someone else!
DeleteThis is an excellent choice for a quote because rather than using a passage that was important to her, she went ahead and found a passage that displays the overall theme of the book.
DeleteThis quote is very significant because it shows the reason behind the title of the book,"Your Inner Fish". There are endless differences between us, as humans, and fish. So many difference that it seems like we have nothing in common. However, we do share the same bone structure in our arms which is a big part of out anatomy.
DeleteI think Shannon chose a significant quote because it emphasizes how relationships are made from evolution. As evolution overtime has changed the bones are similar which is significant in reality because you would never connect our bodies to something such as a fish, but their our ancestors.
DeleteGreat explanation of the Sonic Hedgehog gene. The description along with examples made it easy for anyone to follow and understand. Your quote made me think "wow" it truely is crazy how alike we are to a fish... something we think of as food or a cool pet, but something 375 million years old that connects to us in many differnet ways.
DeleteQuestion 1:
ReplyDeleteWhen the author says “One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” he means that the skeleton has the one humerus followed by the two bones the ulna and radius then the carpals(the blobs). Four organisms that have this “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” are a human, a whale, a cat, and a monkey. The reason these bones and blobs would be the same is because they originated from the same ancestor, but maybe different because they have changed over time.
Question 2:
The deal with “Sonic the Hedgehog” gene is it keeps different sides of body parts different, so that you don’t have to many of one body part or abnormal body parts.
Question 3:
An important quote is “A very different situation exists in fish like Eusthenopteron, where the equivalent of the knee and elbow face largely in the same direction. We start development with little limbs oriented much like those in Eusthenopteron, with elbows and knees facing in the same direction. As we grown in the womb, our knees and elbows rotate to give us the state of affairs we see in humans today.”(43) This quote is significant because us humans are developed much like Eusthenopterons when it comes to the knee and elbow in early devolvement but as we start to grow as humans we become different than the Eusthenopteron. Which is significant because it differentiates humans from all other organisms.
1. By saying "one bone followed by two bones, then little blobs," the author is describing the pattern of bone structure that arms and legs of humans (and other organisms) follow. This means that in a human arm, there is first one bone (the humerus) that attaches to two other bones (the ulna and the radius) which then are attached to "lotsa blobs" of bones. In addition to humans, seals, lizards, penguins, and humpback whales also have this limb structure. These bones would be the same, because many of the organisms with limbs like these have evolved from a common ancestor. They could be different because the creatures adapted/evolved to their environments in different ways for different needs.
ReplyDelete2. The (Sonic) hedgehog gene is found in the ZPA of organisms like flies, chickens, humans, etc. This gene turns on and off at certain times during development to make one part of the body different from another.
3. On page 59, Shubin writes, "Tabin's lab used work in flies to find a gene in chickens that tells us about human birth defects. Randy used the Tabin lab discovery to tell us something about our connections to skates. An 'inner fish' helped find an 'inner chicken,' which ultimately helped Randy find an 'inner skate.' The connections among living creatures run deep."
This quote is significant in that it quickly summarizes the two chapters into an easy synopsis, which (in the last sentence) alludes to a major theme of the book. This quote also hints at disproving the religious theory of creationism.
Samantha Cardinal
ReplyDeleteAP Bio Questions
July 22, 2013
1. When the author says "one bone followed by two bones, then little blobs," he is referring to the limbs of animals and how there is a longer bone that connects to smaller bones, known as the blobs. He is referring to how animals have similar structures as each other. Four organisms that have the "one bone followed by two bones, then little blobs," are whales, humans, bats, and birds. The bones would be similar to one another because of where these organisims originated or because of a common ancestor. They could be different because of a different environment or because of the different size of the organisms.
2. The Sonic Hedgehog is found in both human and animals and plays a crucial role in developing a child while in the womb. It turns on and off to make one body part different from another.
3. The quote on page 40, “Tiktaalik was able to ‘drop and give us twenty'" is the most significant to me because I think that it's very cool and interesting to learn that a fish, a 375 million-year-old fish, could have a wrist just like a human and that such an old organism can be so similar to a human being in todays time.
I also agree that this quote is significant because we never would think that a fish would have something similar to us like a wrist. It is weird that we have came from a common ancestor as a fish, because they are so different from people .It is amazing how things change so much over time.
DeleteQuestion #1
ReplyDeleteWhen Shubin introduces “One bone, two bones, lotsa blobs”, he is referring to the bone structure in human arms and legs. As he continues, he calls attention to the fact that this pattern is similar in many animals as well. Four examples of organisms that follow this pattern are lizards, bats, frogs, and humans. One reason that the bones may be similar is that a creator used the same pattern when he designed humans and animals. Like an artist uses the same pattern for most of his paintings. Another reason that these bones may be the same is that humans, like lizards, bats, or frogs, evolved from each other, and thus we can see the evidence of similar anatomical bone structure.
Question #2
The Sonic Hedgehog gene functions to make one end of the body look different from the other. It got it’s name from the flies with the genetic mutation because the bristles on the gene reminded the scientists who discovered it of a hedgehog.
Question #3
“How deep is our connection to the rest of life? Is the recipe that builds our hands and feet new, or does it, too, have deep roots in other creatures? If so, how deep?” (pg. 54, top of 55)
When I read this quote I had to stop and read it again a few more times. It is the big turning point in the two chapters. The tone shifts from factual information to deeper insight. Shubin is provoking the reader to a new school of thought. I do not have the answers to these questions, but only more questions to respond with. Is the connection to “the rest of life” just a connection through our anatomical structure? Is the connection through a common creator? Or is the connection from a common pattern of evolution? The quote does not answer any of these questions or explain anything, but causes the reader to stop and think about what the answers to the questions may be.
Wow great quote... very deep! I think what he is saying is that every living thing as a connection to each other... some may be more apparent than others. Great job!
DeleteI also agree with Nicole that this quote is significant. The quote Nicole has chosen makes the readers have a different aspect on the relationships between organisms. Prior to reading Chapter 2 and 3, a large majority of people have this preconceived idea that certain organisms descend from common ancestors but this quote opens up a larger picture that the connections between organisms are not as limited as people might believe.
DeleteNicole's quote pretty much asks the reader to reevaluate everything they have ever thought about. From the make up of their body, to their existence, to why they're here. The question posed urges the reader to relate what they just read to their life, and if they even realize how similar everything is, and only the slightest change can end up in an outcome we would have never thought possible.
DeleteBrittnee LeRoux
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1
The author is referring to the bone structure of a humans arm and leg. He goes on to explain how Owen finds similarities in this pattern in many organisms/creatures. Some organisms that would have a "one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs" structure is humans, lizards, monkeys, and bats. A reason why these bones and blobs are the same is because evolution changes an organism creating a new one but the same structure or almost the same structure is passed down. They are different because as evolution progressed the structure of the bones must have been altered in size and shape but still have the same concept as a humans arm or leg.
Question #2
The sonic hedgehog gene made one end of the body segment look different from the other. The sonic hedgehog gene reacts/mimics the ZPA tissues. The sonic hedgehog gene is active on both sides (pinky and thumb). If the sonic hedgehog gene does not turn on at the right time or correctly through the 8th week of development for humans they would most likely have extra fingers or toes , or a pinky would look like a thumb.
Question #3
Shubin writes, "The order of fossils in the world's rocks is powerful evidence of our connections to the rest of life. If, digging in 600-million-year-old rocks, we found the earliest jellyfish lying next to the skeleton of a woodchuck, then we would have to rewrite our texts. That woodchuck would have appeared earlier in the fossil record than the first mammal, reptile, or even fish-before even the worm. Moreover, our ancient woodchuck would tell us that much of what we think we know about the history of the earth and life on it is wrong. Despite more than 150 years of people looking for fossils-on every continent of earth and in virtually every rock layer that is accessible-this observation has never been made."
I find this paragraph to be significant because it shows that fossils can sometimes have the most powerful evidence of organisms/creatures that date back 600 million years. With those fossils we can connect it to how organisms/creatures have evolved throughout the years. The further in the rock the older the animal and the more we can find out about evolution.
I really think that this quote is significant because fossils help us understand what certain animals started as and evolved to become.I also strongly agree that the location of the fossil is relative to how old it is and that is very interesting.
DeleteQuestion 1: When the author states “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs”, he is referring to the structure of limbs in certain species. For example, in humans you have the humerous (one bone) followed by the radius and ulna (two bones), then the wrist (little blob). Species that have this structure in their limbs are humans, seals, lizards, and frogs. A reason why these bones/blobs would be the same is that these species arrived or evolved from common ancestors. A reason why these bones/blobs would be different is simply because of their size and shape.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: The “sonic hedgehog” gene turns on and off in the early stages in the birth of various species. It keeps each part of the body different from eachother. This gene is found in species like chickens and humans.
Question 3: “Shortly after owen announced this observation in his classic monograph on the Nature of Limbs, Charles Darwin supplied an elegant explanation for it. The reason the wing of a bat and the arm of a human share a common skeletal pattern is because they shared a common ancestor. The same reasoning applies to human arms and bird wings, human legs and frog legs—everything that has limbs. (p. 41)” The reason why I chose this paragraph to be significant is this. As owen was was stating and introducing the “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” type of anatomy, nobody really seemed to know why this was true. Then, when Darwin came along, he had an explanation for it; to help people understand why this is true. His explanation for this is that these species share common ancestors.
this quote is important because Charles reasoning shows the reason that you can tell if two organisms are from the same ancestor
DeleteAlicen Clifford
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1
What does the author mean by "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs"? Name 4 organisms that have this "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs" type of anatomy. What would be a reason that these bones and blobs would be the same or different?
When the author says “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs”, he means that this is the general pattern of bones in an animal’s limbs. Four organisms that follow this anatomy are humans, seals, bats, and penguins. These bones and blobs could be different depending on the way an animal evolved and adapted to its surroundings in order to survive. They could be similar because the organisms could have a common ancestor.
Question #2
What is the deal with the "Sonic the Hedgehog" gene. What is it function?
The “Sonic the Hedgehog” gene was first discovered in flies, and it sculpts body segments to look different from one another. Its function is to make a thumb look different from a pinky and to have five fingers on each hand, and this function is consistent throughout the body with each body segment.
Question #3
Find the Quote or Paragraph in the either chapter 2 or 3 that you think is significant and explain why that you feel it is. Please type the quote and give the page number in your response.
“Doesn’t the function of hedgehog in the fly body-to make one region different than another-sound like what the ZPA does in making the pinky different from the thumb? That parallel was not lost on the three labs. So off they went, looking for a hedgehog gene in creatures like chickens, mice, and fish” (52). I feel that this quote is significant because despite the fact that the hedgehog gene serves the same purpose in all organisms, yet humans look nothing like flies, chickens don’t look like sharks, and so on.
This quote is significant because it shows that organisms that do not have many traits in common still have the same gene. It proves that each organism has a common ancestor even if the organism adapted differently. Even if organisms appear to have no similar traits on the outside they still have common genes inside.
DeleteQuestion #1
ReplyDeleteWhat does the author mean by "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs"? Name 4 organisms that have this "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs" type of anatomy. What would be a reason that these bones and blobs would be the same or different?
The phrase “One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” refers to the pattern of bones found in the limbs of many organisms. There is one bone at the base of the limb, where it joins the body, two bones in the middle of the limb, and many small blob-like bones at the end of the limb. This pattern can be found in humans, bats, frogs, and whales. Although the bones and blobs have evolved differently to serve a different purpose in every organism, the fact that the basic pattern is essentially the same proves that all of these organisms shared a common ancestor.
Question #2
What is the deal with the "Sonic the Hedgehog" gene. What is it function?
The “Sonic Hedgehog” gene is a gene found in many organisms such as flies, sharks, humans, and chickens that causes parts of limbs to form differently for one another. For instance, causing the differences between a thumb and a pinky. The significance of this gene is that it can be found in extremely different organisms like flies and sharks.
Question #3
Find the Quote or Paragraph in the either chapter 2 or 3 that you think is significant and explain why that you feel it is. Please type the quote and give the page number in your response.
“All appendages, whether they are find or limbs are built by similar kinds of genes.” (57-58) This quote is significant because it represents the fact that DNA is basically the same in nearly all organisms. Fish and humans, rather than containing completely different DNA for a fin or a limb, have essentially the same DNA, specialized slightly to form distinct digits or a paddle-like fin. Fish, humans, birds, and whales are even more similar than was initially suggested by the presence of the “one bone, two bones, little bones” structure.
This quote is thought provoking because it sums up how similar most DNA really is. Most people would not realize how small deviations of the same DNA can produce entirely different results.
Delete1). When the author says, “One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs,” he means the ways that arms and legs are organized in many animals. The bones in the arms and legs have one bone, followed by two bones together, followed by many small bones together. Four animals that have this type of anatomy are seals, lizards, penguins, and birds. These bones and blobs could be the same or different in their size, shape, and number.
ReplyDelete2). The purpose of the sonic hedgehog gene is to make one region of a body different from all the other regions of that body. If the sonic hedgehog gene did not exist, many regions of the body would look similar.
3). On page 59 of the novel, it says, “But there is a deeper beauty to these experiments on limbs and fins. Tabin’s lab used work in flies to find a gene in chickens that tells us about human birth defects. Randy used the Tabin lab discovery to tell us something about our connection to skates. An ‘inner fly’ helped find an ‘inner chicken,’ which ultimately helped Randy find an ‘inner skate.’” This paragraph from chapter two is significant because it sums up the connection between humans and so many other animals. The genetic and physical makeup of different organisms can have so many things in common despite their difference in appearance. By being concise and to the point, it is easy to understand that this is what the paragraph is saying.
This quote is significant because it tells us that tests done on one specific organism can tell us about other organisms. This shows that DNA between completely different organisms is still similar and they have genes in common even if it does not appear that way.
DeleteI agree that this quote is significant, because it proves just how similar these organisms are. To be able to form a theory working on flies, test that theory on chickens, and apply that theory in skates must mean that the genes of skates, chickens, and flies are incredibly similar. This proof of a common ancestor is a key step in discovering the secrets of evolution.
DeleteSarahkate Norton
ReplyDeleteAssignment #1
1) The author describes the basic bone structure of animals by "One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs." Shubin expresses the bone structure of a leg/arm as "one bone, two bones, lotsa blobs, and five toes." The "one bone" represents the femur or humerous while the "two bones" represents the fibia and tibia or radius and ulna. The numerous metacarpals and carpals represent the "lotsa blobs" of the wrist and hand with an extension of five phalanges (either toes or fingers). Four examples of organisms that have this bone format are humans, bats, frogs, and horses. All of these organisms can be traced back to a similar ancestor because of the formation of their bones. These species evolved differently, obviously, and the the small differences in length, size, and quantity of bones had changed to fit the adaptions. Bats have wings, so the phalanges were elongated. Horses have hoofs, so the phalanges were adjusted and the amount of carpals/metacarpals were decreased. Frogs have strong legs, so the femur was attached to the tibia and fibia.
2) The "deal" with the Sonic Hedgehog gene is that it kicks in during the 8th week of a humans development to help shape the limbs of the body. The hedgehog gene had been originally found in a fly to make one side of the body different from the other. Scientists furthered their study and found the gene in the ZPA tissue of other animals, humans included. If this gene didn't activate then our limbs would look funky, an example being 12 identical fingers on a hand as Shubin expresses.
3) Shubin expresses how the same DNA is used for a variety of tasks in different parts of the body by stating, "Our body is made up of hundreds of different kinds of cells. This cellular diversity gives our tissues and organs their distinct shapes and functions. The cells that make our bones, nerves, guts, and so on look and behave entirely differently. Despite these differences, there is a deep similarity among every cell inside our bodies: all of them contain exactly the same DNA. If DNA contains the information to build our bodies, tissues, and organs, how is it that cells as different as those found in muscle, nerve, and bone contain the same DNA?" (45). This quote makes readers think about how DNA in bodies work differently. Certain parts of DNA are used in specific parts of the body. The DNA controls the color of a person's hair as well as the size of their index finger. DNA is the the basic blueprint for every organisms' body. The body would not be able to grow and function with out the instructions the DNA provides.
This quote shows that the same DNA is found in cells all around the body. Although, it shows that the DNA might be the same, but different sections of it is used to make a certain organ or tissue in different parts of the body.
DeleteAP Biology Part 1
ReplyDeleteAnswer 1: Neil Shubin, the author of “Your Inner Fish”, states “one bone followed by two bones, then little blobs” in his novel. When he articulates this phrase that was introduced originally by Sir Richard Owen, he means to convey to readers that the pattern can be found in all limbs. The human body can serve as a great precedent to match this phrase. In our upper body, located in each arm, we have our humerus or “one bone”. Then the anatomical landmarks that ensue are the radius and ulna that comprise the forearm, or the “two bones”. And finally we have the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges that form the “Little blobs”. The same goes for each leg in our lower body. We, as humans have a femur or the “one bone” section of our leg. Then as you move down the leg there is the medial tibia and lateral fibula, or the “two bone” section of our leg. Then we have the “little blobs” section which is comprised of the medial malleolus, lateral malleolus, talus, calcaneus, dorsal bones, plantar fasca, metatarsal heads and phalanges. Four other organisms that happen to follow this particular pattern, “One bone followed by two bones, then little blobs” type of anatomy, closely related to us humans are seals, lizards, penguins, and finally whales. The reason that these bones and blobs would be the same or look the same are because they all developed from common ancestors distally or closely related, portraying the same blueprint and pattern because there was a need for the limbs to develop and evolve the way they did over time, from 380 million years into the 2000s. The reason the bones or blobs would be different is because although all limbs share the same blueprint and developed pretty much identically over time, there may be a different characteristic or use for each organism based on needs that developed based on habitat or way of life such as a bird and human in comparison. A bird would have time aerodynamic limbs that have the same components as humans, but are structured differently enabling a bird to fly. While humans use their limbs to grasp objects or perform tasks not even remotely related to flying.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteAnswer 2: The “Sonic the Hedgehog” gene is one of dozens of genes that act to sculpt our limbs from shoulder to fingertip by turning off and on at the right time. When researched and discovered in flies it was originally called the hedgehog gene, because of the bristles involved in the gene. However, when scientists discovered the same gene in chickens, they decided to name the gene, the “Sonic the Hedgehog” gene. The gene was indeed named after the Sega game/character. More importantly the gene is located in chromosome seven and is 12,288 bases of DNA long. The code for this gene is (SHH) and its site of action or phase if you will, is in the embryo. While an organism is in an embryo waiting to be hatched or conceived the (SHH) gene is responsible for working in the same way ZPA works. The gene’s role or function is to create codes for signalling proteins crucial for determining the placement of limbs, especially the pinky and thumb. This gene helps to make polar anatomical landmarks different in form, such as the pinky and thumb. Lastly, this gene tested to be common in all animals with limbs.
Answer 3: Neil Shubin writes, “ Tabin’s lab used work in flies to find a gene in chickens that tells us about human birth defects. Randy used the Tabin lab discovery to tell us something about our connections to skates. An ‘inner fish’ helped find an ‘inner chicken’,which ultimately helped Randy find an ‘inner skate’. The connections among living creatures runs deep” (59). This quote is significant because it ties the story’s first three chapters together and gives readers an idea of how one discovery can relate to just about anything else in the world of science. From flies to skates to humans, the “Sonic Hedgehog gene” can be found with ZPA in any organism with limbs. That statement alone carries an enormous amount of magnitude. To think that us humans, as complex as we are, share a common DNA characteristic/gene is pretty spectacular. Just the spectacle that we have the same “Sonic Hedgehog” gene as, say, a chipmunk is pretty neat. When the quote is broken down even further it represents the fact that we, as humans, share a long and deep relationship and connection to a common ancestor. The only true difference between our species and a lion for example is we evolved and developed differently to suit our needs. When the quote is put in perspective it makes me realize that we are all just complex and developed organisms that share the same simple blueprint on the inside, and that is pretty fascinating and significant perspective to ponder.
I like and think this is a good significant quote. I think this is a good choice for a quote because it emphasizes one of the main ideas of the book, that all animals have similar roots somewhere in their evolutionary paths. If you asked a random person on the street if they thought you could track genes and DNA from a fly, to a chicken, up to a human, i bet their answer would be no.
DeleteAnswer 1: When the author says, “One bone followed by two bones, the little blobs”, he is talking about the bone structure of all creatures with limbs. This one bone, two bone, blob blueprint is the same for animals to humans. Some common creatures that have this structure consist of frogs, humans, birds, and whales. One reason that these bones and blobs would be the same is because these animals all have a common ancestor. Over time they have all developed though, making them somewhat different. Some animals will have different size bones or a different amount to allow them to perform what they need to do. However, these animals will all have that similar structure.
ReplyDeleteAnswer 2: The “hedgehog gene” that is referred to is a certain gene that causes different parts of the body to look different. It similar to ZPA (zone polarizing activity) which is a tissue that caused the pinky and thumb to look different. This “hedgehog gene” was discovered by researches looking at flies. This gene is essential because it formulates the limbs of a child in the womb.
Answer 3: In chapter 3, Shubin writes “The connections among living creatures run deep.” I feel that this quote is quite significant because throughout all of chapters 2-3 we learned how animals have these connections to each other, which we can see through fossils. Observing one ancient animals bone structure and DNA can allow you to better understand a more relevant animals structure. All animals have a common ancestor, and evolution just changes them to adapt to their surroundings over time, as proved by Charles Darwin.
this quote is also important. to me this quote gives an example to as another reason why all humans and animals are somehow related and connected.
DeleteQuestion 1: When the author says “one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs” he is referring to the bone structure that all limbed animals have. One bone, the humorous in the arm or the femur in the leg, attaches with two bones, which attach to a series of small blobs, which connects with fingers or toes. In all the animals the only difference is the shape and size of the bones and the number of fingers, toes, and blobs. Four animals that share this type of anatomy are bats, penguins, seals, and whales. A reason that these bones and blobs would be similar is that they all can be traced back to the same ancestor. A reason the bones and blobs are different is because over time each animal has adapted to their habitat and made their own changes.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2:The sonic hedgehog gene is one of many genes that sculpts limbs from shoulder to finger tip by turning on and off at the right time. Its function is to make the thumb and pinky look different and make sure there are five fingers and five toes. If the sonic hedgehog gene doesn’t turn on during the eighth week of the embryo development then the child may have an extra finger or toe, or their pinkies and thumbs might look alike.
Question 3:Neil Shubin writes “What made this cube-shaped blob of bone different from any other fin bone was a joint at the end that had four spaced for four other bones. That’s it the blob looks scarily like a wrist bone-“ (38). This quote is significant because who would ever think a fish had a wrist? This shows that our bone structure comes from fish that lived millions of years ago. Even though humans look completely different from fish, we do share common bone structures.
That true.. who ever thought fish breath air?
DeleteThe quote Jenna chose is very significant. I hadn't thought about it the way she did until I read this. The fact that fish have wrists similar to ours does show the evolution of species. I never would have thought a fish could have a wrist either.
DeleteJenna's quote shows the evolution of humans goes all the way back to fish. It shows that humans and fish are related and our wrists have evolved from a fin bone.
DeleteChapters 2-3
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1: This statement is is referring to limb structures. In humans for example, in our leg we have one bone,the femur, that goes into two bones,radius and ulna, and then little blobs, tarsals, Meta tarsals and phalanges. This type of structure is found in any creature with Wings,flippers,and hands such as Bats,lizards,frogs,and birds. A reason that these structures would be similar would be because they share common ancestors but, this can also cause them to be different because the none structures may change over time.
Question 2: A "sonic the hedge hog" gene is a gene in creatures with limbs that has a similar function to ZPA tissues. The hedgehog gene is responsible for limb structure development during our first 8 weeks of growth. This gene was first discovered in flies and chickens.
Question 3: Page 32 "The reason the wing of a bat and the arm of a human share common skeletal patterns is because they once shared a common ancestor." To me this is an important quote because in most of the research that has been done the most important discoveries have been made due to the fact that humans and animals are related through sharing common ancestors. By this I mean that this gives scientist a lot more proof to back up their research.
This is a very important quote that Alexsis chose. The arm of a human and the wing of a bat have a similar skeletal pattern, which shows that humans and bats both came from the same ancestor.
DeleteTo me, this is one the most important quotes in the book. The comparisons and similarities of the human arm and a bat wing are the easiest examples for me to understand the many facts he says in the book that support the theory of evolution.
DeleteI agree with Alexis that this quote is important. It is the main point of the first couple chapters, and that is that humans and animals are linked together by a common ancestor.
DeleteNicholas Gagnon
ReplyDeleteAssignment #1
1. When speaking of one bone followed by two bones followed by a bunch of little blobs, the author is referring to the structure of the bones in many organisms’ arms. For instance, in humans, the humerus is followed by the radius and ulna and then ends in the multitude of little bones that make up the hands. Four organisms that have this arm structure are seals, birds, bats, and lizards.
2. Sonic Hedgehog is a gene active in the ZPA tissue of all limbed animals. It acts to sculpt limbs, turning on and off at the right time. A malfunctioning Sonic Hedgehog gene is known to form abnormalities in hands and other limbs on humans. The most surprising thing about Sonic Hedgehog is that it is found in every animal that has limbs, clearly proving a connection between the two. In fact, Sonic Hedgehog is even found in creatures with no clear relation to humans, like sharks and skates. Injection of the protein produces remarkably similar results in both species.
3. “Not only did the rods end up looking different from one another, they responded to Sonic hedgehog, much as fingers do, on the basis of how close they were to the Sonic hedgehog bead: the closer rods developed a different shape from the ones farther away” (57). I think that this quote is significant because it shows the remarkable similarities between such different species. A protein from a mouse managed to influence a skate in the same way the skate’s own protein would have. This, to me, clearly shows the ties species share and is a clear highlighter of our inner fish.
Mackenzi Curtin
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1
When the author states “One bone followed by two bones, then little blobs”, he means the basic structure of a limb. He saw this pattern between many different animals. Even though many of these animal’s limbs have different functions they all have this same pattern to make a limb. Four organisms that have this “one bone followed by two bones, then little blobs” type of anatomy are bats, birds, seals, and lizards. These bones or blobs may be the same because these organisms share a common ancestor. Charles Darwin provided an explanation for this because he believed that since these organisms shared a similar skeletal pattern they must have evolved from the same ancestors. However, these bones or blobs may be different now because of how they evolved. Some creatures adapted to use their limbs for flying while others use them to swim. The creatures’ limbs are now different because of the size and shape of the bones and the number of blobs. These blobs and bones are different because of the differences of what the limb is used for.
Question #2
The “Sonic the Hedgehog” gene is the chicken version of the hedgehog gene named by Tabin, McMahon, and Ingham. The hedgehog gene was a gene that made one part of the fly look different from the other. Once the hedgehog gene was found the scientists looked for it in other organisms because it was so similar to ZPA. The function of “sonic hedgehog” is to help sculpt limbs. It turns on and off at different times and is active in the ZPA tissue. If it does not turn on or off at the appropriate time, it can cause part of the limb to not develop correctly. It can be found in almost every creature that has limbs. So not only is the bone structure the same in these organisms the genes are too.
Question #3
The author states, "But there is a deeper beauty to these experiments on limbs and fins. Tabin's lab used work in flies to find a gene in chickens that tell us about human birth defects. Randy used the Tabin lab discovery to tell us something about our connections to skates. An "inner fly" helped find an "inner chicken," which ultimately helped Randy find an "inner skate." The connections among living creatures run deep." p. 59
I think this quote is significant because it links every organism they studied to a common ancestor. They first started to study a gene that they called hedgehog then the scientists found the sonic hedgehog gene. This was the hedgehog gene but in a chicken. Finding this gene caused them to realize we all evolved from a common ancestor. The formation of limbs which this gene is used to make has changed over time because each organism uses the limbs in different ways. All organisms contain the sonic hedgehog gene and have similar anatomies in their limbs because they descended from a common ancestor. However, now they are different because they have adapted in different ways to their specific environments and daily functions.
I also agree with Mackenzi's quote that she chose as most significant. Prior to reading Chapter 3, it is strange to believe that a fly or a chicken could have similar genes as humans. But through studies and the discovery of the sonic hedgehog gene, it is proven that all organisms have a common ancestors. Yet, as pointed out by Mackenzi, now they are different because they change according to their needs for survival and to function on everyday activities.
Delete1. When the author says, "one bone followed by two bones, the little blobs", he means the formation of appendages in animals. Because the structure of a human arm is the humerous followed by the radius and ulna and then followed by the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges, which are described as the little blobs, animals has the same structures but their appendages have different uses. For example, birds, bats, humpback whales, and lizards all have this same anatomy, but the uses are for flying, swimming, or crawling.
ReplyDelete2. The Sonic Hedgehog gene had something to do with making one end of a body segment different from another. Similarly to what they did with the chicken embryo. As the chick was developing, the scientists took one side of the nub to where an appendage started to form and placed it on the other side of the same appendage.
3. A significant quote is, "All appendages whether they are fins or limbs are built by similar kinds of genes", because throughout the chapter 2 and 3, the author was trying to explain evolution first through the physical observation of other creatures' structures from the past to now and then analyzes it further by testing the genes of the same species to see if the same out comes occur and they did. This is 25% through the book. I don't have an exact page number because I downloaded it.
Question #1:
ReplyDeleteOrganisms, such as humans, seals, penguins, and humpback whales, have an anatomy that follows a common pattern. Each organism has a single large bone, that is attached to two bones, that are then attached to a bunch of little tiny pieces of "blob," that are essentially bridges between the two bones and the phalanges. The specific design is different among each species, but the general layout is there. The amount of blobs, or the shape, or size, of the bones may be different, but they all show the "one bone, two bone, blob" anatomy.
Question #2:
The "Sonic Hedgehog" gene is the gene in our bodies that prevents our hands from deformations. If the gene is weak, or missing in our development, then we would be born with an extra finger (or 10), or pinkies and thumbs that look similar.
The produce similar limbs in animals, like in the case of two identical arms in humans, or two wings in birds, and it helps in the big picture. But if the gene gets too specific, then it may cause bodily deformations.
Question #3:
"The immediate thing that strikes you when you see the inside of the hand is its compactness. The ball of your thumb, the thenar eminence, contains four different muscles. Twiddle your thumb and tilt you hand: ten different muscles and at least six different bones work in unison. Inside the wrist are at least eight small bones that love against one another. Bend your wrist, and you are using a number of muscles that begin in your forearm, extending into tendons as they travel down your arm to end at your hand. Even the simplest motion involves a complex interplay among many parts packed in a small space"
(Page 29)
Pretty much the first and last sentences sum it all up for me. It's kind of crazy how much work is involved in just your hand, never mind the rest of your body.