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Michael Coates is a professor in the Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on the evolutionary patterns and processes of early vertebrate diversity. His ongoing projects explore the origins of early tetrapods and the evolutionary transition from fins to limbs. Coates has also investigated primitive shark-like fishes and the evolutionary radiation of jawed vertebrates, contributing to significant discussions about the origins of modern sharks. His work employs fossil evidence and systematic methods to resolve phylogenetic relationships among various vertebrate groups. Notably, he describes key fossils such as Acanthostega gunnari, which bridges the gap between fish and early tetrapods. He collaborates with colleagues to analyze large datasets to understand how major evolutionary events correlate with anatomical changes, focusing on the rich source material available from ray-finned fishes. Michael Coates has a keen interest in integrating molecular sequence data with fossil evidence to promote a comprehensive understanding of vertebrate evolutionary history.
Department of Philosophy