Some Assembly Required by Neil Shubin *****

SomeAssembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA by Neil Shubin surveys the history and current research about evolution. The science of evolution has progressed from pattern matching (these lifeforms look like their related) to DNA (these lifeforms have similar DNA). The most recent breakthroughs have been in the methods of evolution from [lots of random changes over a long time] to specific mechanisms which are described in this book. Readable and fascinating.

 The book is a collection of short biographies, each revealing another discovery in the quest to understand life on earth and how it evolved. A few of the scientists are household names like Darwin, and Watson and Crick, but most are lesser-known scientists who also made important contributions. For example, Lynn Margulis discovered that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated as free-living bacteria and algae. This is one of the mechanisms of evolution: incorporate another organism into your genome.

 One of the important lessons about evolution is that “nothing ever begins when you think it does.” Darwin suggested that evolution was not only a series of gradual changes, but major changes were “accompanied by a change of function.” For example, fish have swim bladders that take in air to moderate buoyancy. These swim bladders later became lungs. Dinosaurs had feathers and hollow bones. These later were used in flight.

 Before DNA analysis scientists knew that some capabilities evolved in parallel. For example, pterodactyls, bats, bees, and birds all independently evolved the ability for powered flight. With DNA analysis scientists can see similar multiple evolutionary pathways. Animals who previously were thought to be related by anatomical analysis have now been shown to be examples of parallel evolution.

 The revolutionary evolutionary steps are more likely combinations of organisms (horizontal genetic transfer) and repurposing of existing structures.  With the assistance of DNA analysis, most evolutionary mysteries have been explained, and the ideas of sudden changes and missing links have been abandoned.

 One interesting observation: several discoveries involving the interactions of human evolution and viruses builds on extensive research on HIV. While HIV research was motivated by the AIDS epidemic, it has delivered many benefits in other fields of research.

The latest research into the mechanisms of evolution and the scientists who discovered them.

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