Download your inner fish summer reading

Advanced Placement Biology
Summer Reading Assignment
Each student is responsible for reading Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year
History of the Human Body by Neil Shubin. You should be able to find copies of this book at
your local library, Amazon.com, or any bookstore. (It is in paperback on Amazon.com for
under $10.00.)
Evolution is one of the Big Ideas in Advanced Placement Biology. This idea states that The
process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life. In this assignment, we are going to
analyze the nonfiction book, Your Inner Fish, by Neil Shubin. In his book, Shubin writes about
the evolutionary relationship between fish and tetrapods (you are a tetrapod) by discussing
development of major body systems and body structures. This book is not your ordinary biology
textbook. He writes in understandable terms and explains his ideas clearly and concisely.
Shubin also makes several connections between evolution, anatomy, and physiology as well as
some associated syndromes that frequently plague humans. This assignment includes reading
this book, keeping a journal, and then answering questions that relate to the big idea of
evolution and evolutionary relationships between species. The goal of this assignment is to
interpret his main ideas, utilize and understand correctly familiar and unfamiliar terms, and
demonstrate an understanding of the text.
This will assess PGE RD2 Informational Reading and will be uploaded as a digital portfolio task.
Your tasks includes keeping a reading journal consisting of the following:
Part I: Before you read the book:
1. Describe what do you think this book is about? Be specific. Please don’t repeat my summary
above.
2. Identify the major idea in biology will be addressed in this book? Brainstorm a list of what
you already know or think you know, about this major idea.
3. State 3-4 questions you have so far about this topic that can be answered either in this
course or in this book.
Part II: As you read the book:
Maintain a reflective journal for each book chapter-by-chapter by:
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Identifying the main claim Shubin is making in each chapter.
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State evidence that supports this claim. If possible you should always have at least 3
pieces of evidence.
Evaluate what he is saying.

Helpful hints on how to do this successfully:
o Focus your reflection the types of evidence Shubin discusses have found that
support evolution and natural selection.
o Don’t summarize the chapters—just identify the gist of the chapter. This
reflection should only focus on evidence of evolution/main idea of chapter and
should be no more than 100 words.
o To evaluate, discuss what thoughts you have regarding his claim and evidence.
Reflect on your thoughts about that idea (For example, “Hey, I never thought of
that before!.........” or “That’s interesting because……..I learned something new.
For example………)
o When writing your journal, it is just a free-form response—not terribly formal.
o Please keep journal entries to 100 words or less
o Should be handwritten—not typed—in a notebook
The following websites may help you further understand and enjoy the book. They show
pictures and have videos:
Nova Website: http://www.pbs.org/your-inner-fish/home/
Part III: After you read the book:
1. Larry Flammer in his review of Shubin’s book states,
“In the process, Shubin reveals how body plans unfold, how organs of vision, hearing and
other senses can be traced to their places and functions in other animals. Again and again, he
points to the clear evidence where current anatomical structures can be seen as old structures
(found in other creatures) that have been "repurposed," clear example of "descent with
modification."” <http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/rev.inner.fish.html>
Shubin discusses vision, hearing and other senses evolved from “old structures” possibly not
related to these “modern” anatomical structures. Choose ONE of these senses and explain how
it has been repurposed in modern species.
4. There are so many illnesses and syndromes that affect humans especially as they age. There
are many practical questions that a little knowledge in evolution can help us answer. Shubin
discusses several diseases (hernias, heart disease, sleep apnea, obesity, even hemorrhoids) and
tries to make sense out of these unrelated diseases. Describe TWO and explain how these
diseases are related to our evolutionary history.
5. Sometimes this video doesn’t work correctly—I have no idea why but try to view the video at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/4/l_034_04.html to see an interview with Neil
Shubin on NOVA and a bit on homeobox genes. (You might need Quicktime or some other
program!) If not, you can always find the answers to the following on the Internet. Put your
“googling” skills to the test!!
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Explain how homeobox genes work.
Darwin always related evolution and natural selection to characteristics: beneficial
characteristics were kept in a population, while unbeneficial characteristics were
weeded out. Shubin and his colleagues say something a little different as they are
studying embryology and development. Now we must describe how evolution and
genes are related. Explain how this is so.
Give examples from the book of how Shubin discusses the genetic foundation of
evolution.
(Some students have trouble viewing this video—please make every effort to see it as you have
several weeks.)
This journal and questions will be collected the first day of school and counted as late after
that—penalized by 10%. Don’t be late as this assignment is 20% of your first quarter grade.
By the way, this assignment when done on time, is a great way to boost one’s grade in the 1 st
quarter and have an RD digiport assignment at the same time!