| Citation | Distinguished for his analysis of the neural and epithelial mechanisms controlling the behaviour of coelenterates and other invertebrates. Mackie was the first to show that epithelial cells could propagate action potentials, and he has made the major contribution to our knowledge of the role epithelial conduction plays in coelenterates and tunicates. He is an outstanding experimental zoologist who has made an unusual number of interesting discoveries in several fields, including the control of luminescence and glandular secretion; the control of cilia; and most recently, the control of swimming patterns in a medusa by separate sodium and calcium spikes in the same axon. His work on hexactinellid sponges has revolutionised knowledge of their histology and physiology. |