Developments in several fields of study (including bio‐acoustics and the analysis of DNA) together with reappraisals of the nature of species have impacted significantly on avian taxonomy. The BOU's Taxonomic Subcommittee has developed guidelines for the application of species limits to sympatric, parapatric, allopatric and hybridizing taxa. These are published here to assist researchers understand the rationale behind the committee's taxonomic recommendations relating to the British List.

To understand how the complex embryonic expression pattern of the Msx1 gene is produced a transgenic analysis of 13 kb of DNA around the Msx1 locus was carried out. Most of the extensive expression pattern of the Msx1 gene was reproduced in transgenics using the LacZ gene fused to 5 kb of Msx1 5' flanking DNA. Two enhancer domains were identified which produced this pattern. The distal element produced expression in the first arch and the nasal epithelium and was restricted to 240 bp. However, the proximal element which produced expression in superficial nasal epithelium, dorsal and ventral myotome, limb mesenchyme, eye, ear, roof plate, second arch, genital ridge and epiphysis, was contained in only 78 bp.

These recommendations of the Taxonomic Sub-committee of the BOU Records Committee will take effect immediately for the purposes of the British List. A paper outlining the approach of the Sub-committee to species-level decisions has recently been published (Helbig et al . 2002. Guidelines for assigning species rank. Ibis 144 : 518-525). The position of Anseriformes and GalliformesA review has been undertaken of 26 phylogenetic studies of the basal clades of birds. This review indicates that the basal subdivisions of living birds are well resolved, and that each of the five hypotheses below is well supported and that these hypotheses are much better supported than any alternative hypothesis.The best supported alternative hypothesis, supported by four mtDNA sequence studies, suggests that Passeriformes is the sister-group to all other living birds. Jackknife analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences of all orders of living birds have shown that this finding may be an artefactual result of longbranch attraction due to insufficient taxon sampling.The following hypotheses are accepted: • The most basal subdivision of living birds is that between Palaeognathae and Neognathae; • Ratitae and Tinamiformes are sister taxa; • Galloanserae and Neoaves are sister taxa; • Anseriformes and Galliformes are sister taxa; • Neoaves is monophyletic.Galloanserae will therefore be placed at the start of the British List. Within Galloanserae, Anseriformes will precede Galliformes. The sequence within the families remains unchanged for now. A paper on this proposal has been completed and will appear elsewhere. cauta , T. chrysostoma and T. melanophris ), and the sooty albatrosses ( Phoebetria , comprising P. fusca and P. palpebrata ). The same studies indicate that the sooty albatrosses are the sister-group of the mollymawks rather than the sister-group to all remaining albatrosses and that the genus Diomedea , as traditionally defined, is not monophyletic. We recommend the recognition of the genera Phoebastria and Thalassarche because this underscores the existence of four major groups of albatrosses and eliminates paraphyly of the traditional genus Diomedea . Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophrisBlack-browed Albatross becomes Thalassarche melanophris. A paper on the generic status of albatrosses has been completed and will appear elsewhere. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruberGreater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus , Caribbean Flamingo P. r. ruber and Chilean Flamingo P. r. chilensis are well-marked taxa that show consistent *Corresponding author. Email: a.g.knox@abdn.ac.uk †This paper is an official document of the British Ornithologists' Union.

Background/Aims Recent incidents have raised awareness about how corporate decisions and behaviour can negatively affect the health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals. This article uses a case study to explore the harm that failing to follow human resources procedures can cause to individuals, organisational culture and effectiveness, and make recommendations to improve practice. Methods Seven experts from a range of professional backgrounds offered opinions on an individual case study involving the misapplication of a human resources policy, considering how it may have deviated from lawful practice and the potential impact this had on both the individual and the organisation. Thematic analysis was carried out on this qualitative feedback to identify superordinate and subordinate themes. Results The thematic analysis identified four superordinate themes: failure to follow organisational policies; impact on the individual; impact on the organisation; and failure to learn. Conclusions Poor application of human resources procedures can cause harm to individuals and organisations in a number of different ways. Human resources departments need to actively protect the health and wellbeing of the individual/s involved in investigative procedures, rather than focusing solely on executing the process.

present but preliminary results suggest an altered distribution of pulmonary epithelial cell types.Additionally, by RNA microarray-analysis of laser-microdissected intrapulmonary epithelium we identified 218 potential target genes which were affected either by loss of-Dll1, or after Notch-inhibition, or under both conditions. These genes are currently being evaluated in silico as well as by expression analysis in wildtype and Notch signaling mutant embryos.Both Pax6 +/ mice and 'PAX77' mice, which over-express 5-7 copies of a human PAX6 transgene, exhibit eye defects. We compared the Pax6 +/ and PAX77 models to investigate how Pax6 dosage controls development and cell-cycle progression in the anterior eye segment.