Tiktaalik

The HHMI’s Tangled Bank Studios will be airing a three part PBS documentary based on Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin. The documentary, like the book of the same name, asserts that, “It took more than 350 million years for the human body to take shape.” And asks, “How did it become the complicated, quirky, and amazing machine it is today?” Broadcast is scheduled for Spring of 2014.

Perhaps this will be the last semester that we read the book in my General Biology class in favor of watching the film version and adding a new read to accompany the class. There are a lot of books I would like to go with, but here’s the opportunity for you to send your suggestions.

The Earth during the Devonian

While you’re at it, I am also starting to teach an Ecology / Genetics class next semester (offered for the first time at our campus) and would be interested to have your suggestions for a book to read with that class as well. So, please send your ideas for a fun reads (I would love to read The Selfish Gene, but have nixed it for failing in the ‘fun’ department) that you think students of General Biology and Ecology / Genetics should read.