The Evolution of Lungs

In this episode of "In Our Time" from BBC Radio 4, Melvyn Bragg leads a discussion with Professor Steve Brusatte, Professor Jonathan Codd, and Professor Emily Rayfield about the evolution of lungs. The conversation traces the development of lungs from early fish with air sacs to the complex respiratory systems of dinosaurs, birds, and mammals. The panel explores the role of environmental pressures, the mechanics of breathing, the function of surfactants, and the diversity of lung structures across different species. They discuss how lungs adapted for various lifestyles, from the high-altitude flight of birds to the immense size of dinosaurs, and touch on the potential impacts of changing atmospheric conditions on lung evolution.