To the 80^th anniversary of Professor Thomas Cavalier-Smith (1942–2021)

Abstract

The present essay is dedicated to one of the most famous evolutionary biologists of recent decades, Thomas Cavalier-Smith, one of the founders of eukaryotic megasystematics. His theoretical work was devoted to various aspects of the origin of the cell and the evolution of the genome, and the main thing was the improvement of eukaryotic megasystematics. Cavalier-Smiths thinking style was characterized by a detailed elaboration of data from various disciplines, including cell biology, biochemistry, molecular evolution, protistology, microbiology, and paleontology. He had an encyclopedic outlook, a lively mind and was alien to dogmatism. His peculiar cognitive method was to put forward and then test extravagant evolutionary hypotheses. The theoretical heritage of Cavalier-Smith has influenced several generations of researchers and the landscape of modern theoretical biology. The life of Cavalier-Smith is a perfect example of endless dedication and a sense of professional duty.