title: Pulmonary surfactant: the key to the evolution of air breathing.
abstract: Pulmonary surfactant controls the surface tension at the air-liquid interface within the lung. This system had a single evolutionary origin that predates the evolution of the vertebrates and lungs. The lipid composition of surfactant has been subjected to evolutionary selection pressures, particularly temperature, throughout the evolution of the vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orgeig
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012119:Respiration; D014714:Vertebrates; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D014867:Water