Cody Limber
@codylimber.bsky.social
Evolutionary Developmental Ornithologist, PhD candidate @Yale EEB interested in feather cell types, cell types evolution, and all things birds
https://www.codylimber.com/
https://www.codylimber.com/
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Cody Limber
@codylimber.bsky.social
· Aug 26
Genetic Characterization of the Cell Types in Developing Feathers, and the Evolution of Feather Complexity
We used single cell sequencing to investigate the cell types of developing chicken feathers. From these data, we are able to describe the transcriptional profile of feather cell types, look at their ....
doi.org
My feather cell type paper is finally out! doi.org/10.1111/ede.... We’ve packed a ton of stuff into this paper but I’ll go through some highlights in this thread!
Reposted by Cody Limber
Evolution of manakin plumage maturation now out early look @sse-evolution.bsky.social
(Phylo-)Devo-evo, plumage, and social signaling
Bonkers system that reshaped how I think about both development and evolution.
doi.org/10.1093/evol...
(Phylo-)Devo-evo, plumage, and social signaling
Bonkers system that reshaped how I think about both development and evolution.
doi.org/10.1093/evol...
January 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Evolution of manakin plumage maturation now out early look @sse-evolution.bsky.social
(Phylo-)Devo-evo, plumage, and social signaling
Bonkers system that reshaped how I think about both development and evolution.
doi.org/10.1093/evol...
(Phylo-)Devo-evo, plumage, and social signaling
Bonkers system that reshaped how I think about both development and evolution.
doi.org/10.1093/evol...
I'm officially coining the term "cell type natural history" where the goal is to describe what cell types are out there, what they're up to, and how did they evolve
January 14, 2026 at 3:43 PM
I'm officially coining the term "cell type natural history" where the goal is to describe what cell types are out there, what they're up to, and how did they evolve
Reposted by Cody Limber
It’s happening!!
#SICB2026 Tomorrow, from 8AM to 3:30PM come to C120/121/122 for ✨Sex Across Origins: Questioning animal-centric assumptions and developing integrative frameworks.✨
Also! 3 fantastic complimentary sessions Tuesday in B113, with a special focus on education in the morning.
#SICB2026 Tomorrow, from 8AM to 3:30PM come to C120/121/122 for ✨Sex Across Origins: Questioning animal-centric assumptions and developing integrative frameworks.✨
Also! 3 fantastic complimentary sessions Tuesday in B113, with a special focus on education in the morning.
January 5, 2026 at 4:32 AM
It’s happening!!
#SICB2026 Tomorrow, from 8AM to 3:30PM come to C120/121/122 for ✨Sex Across Origins: Questioning animal-centric assumptions and developing integrative frameworks.✨
Also! 3 fantastic complimentary sessions Tuesday in B113, with a special focus on education in the morning.
#SICB2026 Tomorrow, from 8AM to 3:30PM come to C120/121/122 for ✨Sex Across Origins: Questioning animal-centric assumptions and developing integrative frameworks.✨
Also! 3 fantastic complimentary sessions Tuesday in B113, with a special focus on education in the morning.
Reposted by Cody Limber
If you're bored and use iNaturalist, here's a link to a tool that displays which of your observations were the first recorded for a taxon. I apparently have 16 (out of 3,395). I need to get out more. 🌿 #inaturalist #nature #insects #spiders glauberramos.github.io/inat/first-o...
December 5, 2025 at 10:22 AM
If you're bored and use iNaturalist, here's a link to a tool that displays which of your observations were the first recorded for a taxon. I apparently have 16 (out of 3,395). I need to get out more. 🌿 #inaturalist #nature #insects #spiders glauberramos.github.io/inat/first-o...
As a mere feather biologist, it was such a privilege to get to see these books!! 10/10 can recommend tracing back your science to the oldest citation you can find
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
As a mere feather biologist, it was such a privilege to get to see these books!! 10/10 can recommend tracing back your science to the oldest citation you can find
One of the copies of Origin bore this inscription which we figured out meant that Darwin had this book sent to his friend JD Dana. Dana was out of town in Italy, so Benjamin Silliman received the book instead. The citation is this review of Origin: ajsonline.org/article/66142
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
One of the copies of Origin bore this inscription which we figured out meant that Darwin had this book sent to his friend JD Dana. Dana was out of town in Italy, so Benjamin Silliman received the book instead. The citation is this review of Origin: ajsonline.org/article/66142
Our favorite detail was this fold-out tree, which is the only illustration in Origin, and has no doubt left its mark on how we visualize species' relationships
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Our favorite detail was this fold-out tree, which is the only illustration in Origin, and has no doubt left its mark on how we visualize species' relationships
We also couldn't resist checking out a first edition copy of On the Origin of Species from 1859. Origin was much easier to read than Micrographia and felt more like an old book rather than something from a totally different era. Makes sense as it was half the age.
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
We also couldn't resist checking out a first edition copy of On the Origin of Species from 1859. Origin was much easier to read than Micrographia and felt more like an old book rather than something from a totally different era. Makes sense as it was half the age.
In addition to the beautiful feathers, this Hooke also coined the term "cells" which he observed looking at thin slices of cork.
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
In addition to the beautiful feathers, this Hooke also coined the term "cells" which he observed looking at thin slices of cork.
It was a bit of a surprise that the drawings were on fold out pages that were often slightly larger than the rest of the book. The quality of the prints was also incredible
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
It was a bit of a surprise that the drawings were on fold out pages that were often slightly larger than the rest of the book. The quality of the prints was also incredible
As a non-historian, it was pretty mind blowing to handle a book that's over 350 years old. We received some handling guidelines, but didn't have to wear gloves allowing us to experience the book in the same way someone from 1665 would have!
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
As a non-historian, it was pretty mind blowing to handle a book that's over 350 years old. We received some handling guidelines, but didn't have to wear gloves allowing us to experience the book in the same way someone from 1665 would have!
I posed recently about my recent obsession with Hooke's Micrographia (1665) and the incredible feather drawings it has. I really wanted to see an original copy and luckily, Yale has two! So, earlier this week, I headed down to the Beinecke Library with @mylestogo.bsky.social to check it out
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I posed recently about my recent obsession with Hooke's Micrographia (1665) and the incredible feather drawings it has. I really wanted to see an original copy and luckily, Yale has two! So, earlier this week, I headed down to the Beinecke Library with @mylestogo.bsky.social to check it out
Okay last thing, what the heck is up with the long s?! It took me several minutes to parse this bit of text because of the combo of f, s, and long s.
October 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Okay last thing, what the heck is up with the long s?! It took me several minutes to parse this bit of text because of the combo of f, s, and long s.
Yes yes he's actually talking about the tons of barbs and barbules and the design of a higher power but if you squint your eyes a little bit, it's a perfect quote for starting my next feather cell type talk
October 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Yes yes he's actually talking about the tons of barbs and barbules and the design of a higher power but if you squint your eyes a little bit, it's a perfect quote for starting my next feather cell type talk
My favorite quote is almost about cell types and evolution "For there is hardly a large Feather in the wing of a Bird, but contains neer a million of distinct parts, and every one of them shap’d in a most regular & admirable form, adapted to a particular Design"
October 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
My favorite quote is almost about cell types and evolution "For there is hardly a large Feather in the wing of a Bird, but contains neer a million of distinct parts, and every one of them shap’d in a most regular & admirable form, adapted to a particular Design"
Of course, he doesn't get everything right. He is surprised not to find pores between the barbs and the rachis which he speculates should exist to transport nutrients to the barbs as they grow. Feathers actually grow from the base instead of branching from the tips like a tree
October 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Of course, he doesn't get everything right. He is surprised not to find pores between the barbs and the rachis which he speculates should exist to transport nutrients to the barbs as they grow. Feathers actually grow from the base instead of branching from the tips like a tree
Hooke describes how barbules have hooklets and connect together to form a pennaceous feather. He also talks about how birds can "re-join and re-context" barbules that have been separated by "stroking the Feather or drawing it through its Bill"
October 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Hooke describes how barbules have hooklets and connect together to form a pennaceous feather. He also talks about how birds can "re-join and re-context" barbules that have been separated by "stroking the Feather or drawing it through its Bill"
It caught my eye because of the incredible descriptions and illustrations of feathers under a microscope which are just as impressive as any modern illustrations
October 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
It caught my eye because of the incredible descriptions and illustrations of feathers under a microscope which are just as impressive as any modern illustrations
I bumped into a very cool reference today! Micrographia by Robert Hooke was published in 1665 and is basically a bunch of descriptions of things seen while looking through a microscope
October 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I bumped into a very cool reference today! Micrographia by Robert Hooke was published in 1665 and is basically a bunch of descriptions of things seen while looking through a microscope
One of my favorite parts of writing is remembering that the perfect citation exists and even remembering what one of the figures looks like but not remembering any of the key words that make finding the paper possible
September 17, 2025 at 1:45 PM
One of my favorite parts of writing is remembering that the perfect citation exists and even remembering what one of the figures looks like but not remembering any of the key words that make finding the paper possible
This is incredible, congrats!! 🎉
August 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This is incredible, congrats!! 🎉
Finally, if you’ve got a gene you’re interested in and want to know what cell types it’s expressed in, let me know!! AND if you think this work sounds really cool and interesting, I’ll be looking for postdocs next fall so let’s chat!
August 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Finally, if you’ve got a gene you’re interested in and want to know what cell types it’s expressed in, let me know!! AND if you think this work sounds really cool and interesting, I’ll be looking for postdocs next fall so let’s chat!
This work shows how we can connect development, morphology, and evolution. By tracing feather cell development and understanding feather cell type evolution, we can better understand how one of nature's coolest novelties - the feather - evolved!
August 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
This work shows how we can connect development, morphology, and evolution. By tracing feather cell development and understanding feather cell type evolution, we can better understand how one of nature's coolest novelties - the feather - evolved!
And finally, we made an evolutionary tree of feather cell types. Our tree, which is congruent with the evo-devo model of feather evolution, tells a new story about the homology of feather cells with the layers of the epidermis.
August 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
And finally, we made an evolutionary tree of feather cell types. Our tree, which is congruent with the evo-devo model of feather evolution, tells a new story about the homology of feather cells with the layers of the epidermis.