| Citation | Distinguished for interrelated investigations on the fine structure and functions of the nervous, sensory, muscular and cutaneous systems of lower chordates and fishes. Dr Bone's fine work on the nervous system of Amphioxus led to later research in which he used exacting histological and ultrastructural techniques very skilfully to solve important problems. Thus, for example, he made a close study of the nervous system of the hag fish and of Mauthnerian Systems in fishes generally. He proved that these mediators of escape are present in all main groups of lower aquatic vertebrates. His work on the innervation patterns in the lateral muscles of fishes, which he has shown to have important bearing on the interpretation of fish phylogeny, led to structural and physiological studies of 'red' and 'white' muscle systems. These have stimulated much related research. Recently he has been concerned in structural and functional studies on the neuromuscular systems of pelagic tunicates and on the influence of skin impulses on their locomotion.
Dr Bone is one of the best all round zoologists in Britain today with a rare grasp of both classical and modern zoology and of modern experimental methods. His work has done much to draw the attention of zoologists and physiologists to little known and exciting aspects of marine biology. In most of the 45 papers under his name he is either the sole or leading author. |