Animals have a lot in common
Shubin shows that although to our perception, animal life is unbelievably diverse, the truth is that much of animal DNA is the same among various species, and sometimes animals that seem very different have astonishingly similar DNA. The book shows that the wings of birds are similar in structure to the fins of fish and to the arms of primates. Eye structure, nose structure, teeth and jaw structure, and ear structure all are shared amongst various species.
Humans have a lot in common with all the animals
Not only are animals similar to each other, but they're similar to us too. Although the senses of sight, smell, and hearing are extremely precious, they're not recent or unique. Some of our biological mechanisms are extremely old, going back to early life on the planet. Our nostrils are similar to those of the majority of the animal kingdom.
Evolution and the progress of animal life
One could say this book is a celebration of animal life on the planet, from a scientific point of view, so it's fitting that the book should include its beautiful passages explaining the wonder and beauty of the natural order, and of the processes of selection and evolution. Animals are all a kind of family, since we have so much in common, and since we're all branches of the same tree, in an evolutionary sense.
