The evolution of energy metabolism in mammals

摘要

Yet Niggle wanted to paint a tree. In this contribution I want to paint a small aspect of an immense tree, the phylogenetic tree, and specifically those branches concerned with the mammals and their evolution. Most of the evidence as to the functional development of these branches must come from the detailed study of leaves, the individual species, that we know, largely from structural evidence, to be on a particular branch. It is only possible to study a few leaves, and therefore we must continually be aware of our choice of leaves lest they be too unusual.