Friday, July 19, 2019

Baby Dinosaurs and Ancient Red Blood Cells

John R. (Jack) Horner an example of a highly successful dyslexic with minimal traditional academic skills but maximum productivity in his field of research. Horner flunked out of the University of Montana seven times. (I used to say six times, but he corrected me.) However, after he had established himself, “his brilliant synthesis of evidence . . . forced paleontologists to revise their ideas about dinosaur behavior, physiology, and evolution.” Horner never earned an undergraduate degree or graduate degree. But now he is a professor with many graduate students, an honorary degree and many, many honors. He failed “just about all his science courses, and never [completed] his undergraduate work.” Although he had great difficulty with his course work, it is clear that at a deeper level he was continuously learning--absorbing the knowledge needed to understand and then revolutionize a field of knowledge.

As Horner tells the story, his difficult beginnings helped him to be a risk taker. “ ‘Back in the days when I was growing up, nobody knew what dyslexia was. . . . So everybody thought you were lazy or stupid or both. And I didn't think I was, but I wasn't sure. I had a lot of drive, and if somebody told me I was stupid, that usually helped -- it really helped me take a lot more risks. For someone that everybody thinks is going to grow up to pump gas, you can take all the risks you want. Because if you fail, it doesn't matter.’ ”

But the risks paid off. According to the curator of the museum of vertebrate paleontology at the University of California at Berkeley: “A lot of people have tended to underestimate Jack because he hasn't come through the traditional academic route. But he is, without question, one of the two or three most important people in the world today studying dinosaurs.” Horner is able to see things differently and he observes things others do not see. For example, he believes that it is really of little interest to find the fossil bones of a large adult dinosaur. What he is interested in finding are fossils of many dinosaurs of many sizes, in their environment, in order to understand the life of the animals and the way they interacted with other animals and plants in that environment. Horner is known not only for his markedly different way of looking at things, but also his unusual ability to see, in the field, the tiny fossil bones of baby dinosaurs that other experts cannot find. According to another researcher: “He has a gift. . . . He can see things the rest of us don't see.”

Horner is especially worth noting because, in spite of his persistent academic failures, he came eventually to be acknowledged as one who has transformed some of the fundamental thinking in his field. His story forces us to reconsider in a deep fashion what is really important in one’s work and what is not. Horner proved to have extraordinary difficulties with things that are largely peripheral to his discipline (reading, composition, test taking), but also proved to be unusually gifted in those things that lie at the heart of his discipline (being unusually observant while searching for fossil bones in the field, being able to interpret the surprising patterns that emerge, being able to visualize easily changes to terrain and ecology over very long periods of time, thinking his way beyond and around his associates, seeing ways of using new technologies, developing innovative and persuasive arguments based on looking at the fossil evidence in a very different way).

Horner says he tries to teach his students “to think like a dyslexic” because that is where the “good stuff” comes from -- learning to read the book of nature with careful personal observations and fresh insight without being distracted by the theories of others. He says the rest is “just memorization.” One of Horner’s students, dyslexic herself, recently made discoveries thought “impossible” -- finding red blood cells and flexible blood vessels inside a 65 million-year-old fossil bone. Horner points out that this discovery was never made before because “all the books in the world” would say that it could not be done. He notes that it is easy for dyslexics “to think outside the box” because “they have never been in the box.” We need to see the truth of Horner’s observation that dyslexia is “certainly not something that needs to be fixed, or cured, or suppressed!” Indeed, we need to see that, as Jack says (in a recent article), “maybe it’s time for a revolution” -- or at least (from a separate interview) “it may be time to start something.”

Based on section from the new Epilogue for the second edition of In the Mind’s Eye to come out in July-August 2009. See new Jack Horner book just out earlier this year, How to Build a Dinosaur.

33 comments:

  1. thanks for the good information you have got right here on this post!
    NegosyongPinoy.info

    ReplyDelete
  2. The ideas that are conveyed for each article ought to mirror the general thought inside the blog. Informative blogs pull in more readers. A blog stacked down with information and affirmations pull in a gigantic measure of readers since they can identify with the condition and things being anticipated in the blog. NEWS

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi

    I also have interest in this. I have been looking for this! Can you please explain this topic a bit more.

    All the best,
    BikerJacket.info

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi

    This is a very exciting topic. There are good college courses online for this.

    My best wishes!
    Edward

    ReplyDelete
  5. Running to your fullest potential should never be restricted because of money. It’s one of the most primal, basic forms of exercise and competition that requires little more than your legs and a destination. Nonetheless, there is often an overwhelming amount of information and barriers that can price people out of the fundamentals for optimal training. Free Running Plans

    ReplyDelete
  6. I’ve always had a passion to remove that barrier so anyone who wants to run can have easy and low-cost access to the best training possible. These base running plans have been established and can be catered to your needs at zero cost to you. For me personally, it's a small way I can give back just a fraction of what running has given to me. 10k Running Plan

    ReplyDelete
  7. Remove the complexity of coordinating the Audio/Visual System specifications from your mind and let our Solution Specialists analyse your event’s requirements and tailor the best solutions for a smooth and seamless event. Our team will offer you only the best recommendations that will meet your needs. audio support Singapore

    ReplyDelete
  8. Using game with BankID is a modern way to play game today. It's really no wonder that it has become so popular in Sweden, since BankID is used almost everywhere nowadays. The advantage when playing game with bankid is that you start playing directly. BankID is used in Sweden today as a value document, and stands as high as a passport or ID card. casinostars.se

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nowadays a mammoth number of the big stars are truly creating their own blogs. Recently there was a great hype that was created inside a site where one on-screen character insulted the other. There are various readers from across the world who read those comments and they can other than comment on them in case they want to. Top Daily Planner

    ReplyDelete
  10. Reestablishing a blog site is something you need to do or it should finally stop passing on website visitors. The second as long as seven days is impacted in case it is possible. Come back to your blog site unremittingly and counsel those that leave examinations. As time goes on, you will experience a rapidly uncooperative character and should regard a solace. Newscredit.org

    ReplyDelete
  11. Having a live chat structure in place offers convenience to customers. Remember, there are two kinds of customer's for instance potential buyers and current customers. These customers need to discover a couple of solutions concerning the products and services you bring to the table. While having a customer support platform in place, things will everything considered be amazingly basic considering you can reach out to them inconvenience free. customer experience

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Aver Asia has always had an eye on Southeast Asia. With the center of operations based in Singapore, our footprint has crossed over to Southeast Asia and China. Since 1999, we held a vital role in multi-industries and were involved in projects in construction, infrastructure, marine, offshore, and oil and gas. Our quality assurance and commitment to customer service is evidenced by our ISO 9001 certification. scissor lift

    ReplyDelete
  14. The longer coffee beans are roasted, the more bitter and smokier they get. So, if you hate coffee because of its bitter taste, then consider sticking to the blonde and light roasts and you will get something naturally brighter and sweeter. Among the light roasted coffees, we highly recommend the African coffees. coffee tastes sour

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Despite being a grass, bamboo tends to be more really than some supposed hardwoods. In like way, bamboo cabinets are unequivocally going to serve you for some more years to come. Regardless, what whole do you think about bamboo cabinets for your kitchen? Read on and find an aspect of the things you should acknowledge before purchasing bamboo cabinets. bamboo kitchen

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your Mr. Coffee maker will have removable parts that are dishwasher safe. For your convenience, you can just throw them into your dishwasher for a nice clean sparkle. Take note that the power cord, electrical base, and plug of a dishwashable coffee maker are not dishwasher safe. So, you should never immerse it in water or other liquids. how to clean Mr. Coffee maker

    ReplyDelete
  20. The philosophy of our real estate brokerage and our real estate agents is simple: clients come first. Our team of the best realtors pledge to be in constant communication with our clients, keeping them fully informed throughout the entire buying or selling process. Our great realtors believe that if you’re not left with an amazing experience, we haven’t done our job. homes for sale comanche county

    ReplyDelete
  21. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  24. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  26. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  27. We will help make it light and comfortable to keep your feet healthy. It is important that leather shoes provide you with safety and comfort while performing daily activities. Even if they are of good quality and to your taste, that is the best purchase. This is exactly what Lucci Verrosi's women's leather shoes are like. zenska obuca

    ReplyDelete
  28. Softwarehunter offers several ways of direct customer support, from live chat to traditional telephone support, we offer everything. The respective purchase process is simple and understandable for everyone and the delivery times are hard to beat in comparison, paired with the unbeatable prices, software hunter is simply the best option for the customer. Softwarehunter Gutscheincode

    ReplyDelete
  29. Personal loans end up being helpful whenever you need to meet emergency costs. In spite of the way that they have adaptable repayment periods, however Malaysian personal financing in addition promise you get the money you need inside the most short period of time possible. However, before you take out a personal loan, it is to your most fundamental advantage that you comprehend the undeniable of types personal loans open to you. pembiayaan peribadi koperasi

    ReplyDelete
  30. If your pipes are leaking and your drains aren’t working properly, it’s important to seek expert help straight away to prevent any big issues from arising. Faulty plumbing and poorly maintained pipes can cause problems for your property and in some cases could be dangerous to your wellbeing. plumber northridge

    ReplyDelete
  31. Modern kitchen styles can be attained by either matching it with a light marble or stainless countertop. Have a look at our black kitchen cabinets page for even more ideas. Beauty and elegance of a kitchen is best expressed when the elements of different colors compliment each other. espresso kitchen cabinets

    ReplyDelete
  32. Finding a fix and flip loan in Connecticut is about to get a lot easier. At Quick Real Estate Funding we are finding new ways to make Private Money Funding more accessible. We have the resources to invest in many different markets, we have been able to gain a lot of experience providing funds for real estate across the state, including a ground up construction loan in Connecticut. hard money loans connecticut

    ReplyDelete
  33. Our physicians are dedicated to your health and wellness and provide the highest quality medical care with the one-on-one personal attention that you need. With a centrally located office convenient to both Phoenix and Scottsdale residents, our doctors have over 45 years of family-care experience and are experts in their area of specialty. primary care physicians in phoenix az

    ReplyDelete