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/
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!
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
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.
Third, we looked at cell-cell signaling pathways and found that cell types only function in development of the feather play important roles in signaling the cells that eventually form the feather.
August 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Third, we looked at cell-cell signaling pathways and found that cell types only function in development of the feather play important roles in signaling the cells that eventually form the feather.
Second, we mapped developmental trajectories with RNA velocity. We find three trajectories corresponding to the sheath, the barb ridge, and the basal epithelium. This finding implies that the different layers of the skin develop on their own trajectories.
August 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Second, we mapped developmental trajectories with RNA velocity. We find three trajectories corresponding to the sheath, the barb ridge, and the basal epithelium. This finding implies that the different layers of the skin develop on their own trajectories.
First, we created a cell atlas for developing feathers. We used in situ hybridizations for marker genes and found that we can actually identify feather cell types based on their transcriptome profiles which should be helpful to anyone interested in using single cell sequencing on feathers!
August 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
First, we created a cell atlas for developing feathers. We used in situ hybridizations for marker genes and found that we can actually identify feather cell types based on their transcriptome profiles which should be helpful to anyone interested in using single cell sequencing on feathers!