183 - Neil Shubin: Fins, Limbs, and the Evolutionary Journey from Fish to Human

Patreon: https://bit.ly/3v8OhY7

Neil Shubin is Robert R. Bensley Distinguished Professor of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago. In addition to actively leading research expeditions across the globe, Neil runs the Shubin Lab, where genetic, kinematic, and paleontologic work combine to investigate some of the major transitions in evolution. In this episode, Robinson and Neil discuss some of these transitions, including the importance of the Devonian and Triassic Periods, how fish moved from water to land, and how early terrestrial environments accommodated them. Neil’s most recent book is Some Assembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA (Random House, 2020). 

The Shubin Lab: https://shubinlab.uchicago.edu

Neil’s Twitter: https://shubinlab.uchicago.edu

Some Assembly Required: https://a.co/d/dnZMuSl

OUTLINE

00:00 In This Episode…

00:39 Introduction

03:25 What Is Evolutionary Biology? 

12:59 On The importance of the Devonian Period

20:39 Searching Antarctica for Fish Fossils

31:50 How Did Fish Become People? 

54:43 Genetics and Kinematics

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.