Neil Shubin
Neil Shubin
Neil Shubinis an American paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer. He is the Robert R. Bensley Professor of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, Associate Dean of Organismal Biology and Anatomy and Professor on the Committee of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago along with being the Provost of the Field Museum of Natural History. He is best known for his discovery of Tiktaalik roseae...
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth22 December 1960
creatures fish fossil land mosaic saw showing time
What we saw was a real mosaic between characteristics of fish and those previously thought to be only in land animals. The fossil was showing us how creatures were assembled over time to live on land.
arctic classic inside rocks tropical
Outside, it's a classic Arctic scene. But inside those rocks is a tropical world.
earliest functional major parts similar ways wrist
Most of the major joints of the fin are functional in this fish. The shoulder, elbow, and even parts of the wrist are already there and working in ways similar to the earliest land-living animals.
functional major
Most of the major joints of the fin are functional in this fish.
animals early inside similar version walk
When we look inside the fin, we see a shoulder, we see an elbow, and we see an early version of a wrist, which is very similar to that of all animals that also walk on land.
began rock
When we got back into the lab, we removed the rock from the bone, and we began to find some really significant stuff.
looking lots saw
We were always looking over our shoulders; we saw lots of tracks.
creature
Here is a creature with fins that can do push-ups.
few high uncovered
We did a few high fives when we uncovered the fossil, but there's only so much celebrating you can do in the Arctic.
begun crack sort
We've really only begun to sort of crack that spot.
archaic branch evolution
This is not some archaic branch of evolution. This is our branch of evolution. This is our wrist. This is the evolution of our neck.
behind cliff ideal likely rest sticking
That's ideal having the snout sticking out because in the cliff behind it is likely the rest of the animal.
arctic bears carry eat food polar
Another thing to get used to in the Arctic is being in the food chain. There are polar bears there, and polar bears eat people. So we carry weapons.
animal history includes represents transition water
This animal represents the transition from water to land?the part of history that includes ourselves.