The book title shouts, “DINOSAURS!” What made it so compelling was the universe Crichton created around the dinosaurs to make their existence seem not just plausible, but inevitable. In this chapter the author delves into proteins, laboratory analytics, cross contamination of samples, and continues to show the reader that his characters keep missing the fact that there is a monster in the neighboring room. The reader knows there will be dinosaurs, and the tension escalates as the characters keep missing out on realizing that there are dinosaurs nearby.

Best Writing, Quotes:

“Because this enzyme was a marker for genetic engineering, and not found in wild animals, technicians assumed it was a lab contaminant and did not report it when they called Dr. Cruz, the referring physician in Puntarenas.”” – Page 29

Jurassic Park, Page 29

This is a monster sentence that fits with Crichton’s theme of overconfidence leading to disaster. It hints at issues that grow in Crichton’s writing that human mistakes are the most dangerous part of science and scientific discovery.

Writing Exercise – Take the quote and make it Active Voice, Present Tense: Lab contamination is a common risk. The enzyme is a common marker for genetic engineering not found in wild animals, and when detected researchers ignore it, assuming its presence to be a result of cross contamination.

Page by Page Highlights:

29

“But among the salivary proteins was a real monster: molecular mass of 1,980,000, one of the largest proteins known.”

…

“Because this enzyme was a marker for genetic engineering, and not found in wild animals, technicians assumed it was a lab contaminant and did not report it when they called Dr. Cruz, the referring physician in Puntarenas.” 

30

“I don’t know,” she said. “But that looks like a dinosaur to me.”

31

“And whatever it is, it can wait until Dr. Simpson gets back from Borneo to identify it.” – Page 31