How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
She noticed that the lizard left three-toed tracks that looked exactly like bird tracks. (1.1.47)
The novel goes along with the theory that dinosaurs are closer to birds than to reptiles. Part of the thrill of the park for someone like Alan Grant is getting to see his hypotheses tested in real life.
Quote #2
"I am no longer certain she was bitten by a basilisk. Not certain at all." (1.2.64)
Before formally introducing the dinosaurs, Crichton builds the suspense by having minor characters off the island make false assumptions, which are then corrected through little scientific discoveries. It's not that science is never useful; it just depends on what kind of use it's put to.
Quote #3
Costa Rica was becoming deforested, and as jungle species lost their habitats, they moved to other areas, and sometimes changed behavior as well. (1.3.7)
Unbeknownst to Hammond and crew, dinosaurs have gotten off the island. You might think escaped dinosaurs would be noticed, right? Well, they are noticed, but no one realizes what they're seeing, because, duh, no one expects them to be dinosaurs—and also because geographical changes are changing the behavior of animals that do belong in today's world.