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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 evolution of early vertebrate diversity, employing fossils and systematic methods to explore evolutionary patterns and processes. Ongoing projects investigate topics such as the origin of early tetrapods, the evolutionary transition from fin to limb, and the evolutionary history of ray-finned fishes. Coates has made significant contributions to understanding the phylogenetic patterns that encompass the fish-tetrapod transition and the developmental evolution associated with these changes. He utilizes large data sets to analyze major branching events in the tree of life, linking these to substantial anatomical transformations. His work has included detailed descriptions of primitive fish-like tetrapods and has involved collaboration with other researchers to reassess the completeness of the fossil record. Coates has published numerous studies on vertebrate evolution in prestigious journals, addressing various aspects of morphology, phylogenetics, and paleobiology.
Department of Philosophy