The number of traits determinable from the simple structure of things is amazing and is something that I often take for granted.  Dr. McPherson elaborated on how we use our knowledge to perceive the function of structures and on how all things have a history in his convocation. Things such as the structure of teeth fossils, the color of snakes, and the geology of valleys were analyzed in order to determine their function and history.  I usually think of science as something to be learned, often overlooking the fact that new discoveries require interpretation before new concepts can be learned.  Knowledge fuels the interpretation of newly discovered structures and aids in the further understanding of older ones.  Interpretation is the key to all aspects of life, not just biology.  I believe that knowledge is the basis of all interpretation.  In my eyes, this stresses the importance of a constantly continued education.  The more our knowledge is increased in various areas, the better we are able to understand why things are shaped as they are and what functions they serve in organisms as well as in environmental and social circumstances.
     Dr. McPherson also stressed that everything has a history.  From the diamond in the ring on my finger, to the water molecule in a hydrolysis reaction, everything has a previous history.  He used electromagnetism to explain many functions.  In doing this, he resorted to reductionism.  I think that the smallest parts of organisms and ideas are largely important; however, I also believe that reductionism overlooks many important emergent properties that are only realized by looking at things as a whole.  Just as I was about to become biased in his ideas on the history of things, he mentioned the importance of holism and its role in the understanding of structure, function, and history as well.
    The convocation made me realize that I often take the function of things for granted without delving into the “whys” and “hows” often implicated by structure.  By analyzing placement and situations, many questions concerning structure, function, and history can be answered.  Using my knowledge, I can possibly discover new ideas of functions and previous histories from my own analysis.