- In this chapter we are introduced to paleontology, the study of fossils. Today this field combined with geographical advancements have helped locate and identify fossils in a more systemized and efficient method. Paleontologiest use simple plans they also use modern technologies. These technologies include computers with programs that could scan places far from where a paleontologist is located. There are also radiographic devices that can see through some kinds of rock and allow them to visualize the bone inside.
- Shubin(the wuthor of this book) found fossils that over 350 million years old which provides teh evidence for the transition between fish and land-living animals. Ideally sedimentary rocks( such as limestone, sandstone, siltstone and shalesare) are thought to house fossils. However the type of rocks in which the fossil was found in helps determine the characteristics of the organism the fossil belongs to. It also provides information about the organism's surrounding environment as well.
- In the fall of 2004 paleontologists found what they thought was a intersect between a fish and a land living animal, which was later named “Tiktaalik. This fossil had bones which corresponded with the human arm and forearm, and even some parts of the wrist. This fish/human like fossil even had human like joints such as shoulders and elbows. Yet it also had fish like charecteristics
such as scales and fins with fin webbing.
- Neil Shubin thinks Taktaali explains something about our own bones as the entire shitf can be traced back to the loss of a few small bones in a fish like Tiktaalik. Tiktaalik is different in how it's connected and how it moves its body. The fish before Tiktaalik had its head connected to its body, so whenever the fish bent its body its head also bent. But Tiktaalik is completly free of the shoulders, the movement of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals (including us) can be traced to Tiktaalik.
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