Michael A. Palmer

The paper uses fate-mapping in a cartilaginous fish to show the spiracular organ develops from a unique neurogenic placode, distinct from lateral line placodes, supporting its developmental independence from the lateral line system.

The paper investigates morphogenesis in lizard lungs, finding that stress ball morphogenesis is conserved but luminal inflation varies, with apical constriction contributing to transitional chambers in veiled chameleons.

This study shows that Fgf signalling is required for epithelial remodelling and gill slit perforation in skate embryos, highlighting an ancestral role in vertebrate pharyngeal pouch development.

The paper identifies vascular smooth muscle as the developmental source of pulmonary smooth muscle in birds and shows PITX2 regulates this transition.