Out today in Science Advances. We trace the evolutionary history of a trait under sexual selection in a genus of dancing manakins. Co-led with HC Lim. science.org/doi/epdf/10.11…

But the related orange-collared manakin is colorful, too. Did it acquire the trait independently? Or has there been gene flow with that species, too? Geoff Hill's group (@PowersPods Nicholas Justyn, PhD Geoffrey Hill) ID'd feather carotenoids, and all species use the same one: lutein.

This project was a huge effort and relied on the work of many dedicated scientists. Huge thanks to everyone who helped make it happen! science.org/doi/epdf/10.11…

Mito morphology plays a role in the physiological changes that enable long-distance migration. Congrats Wendy Hood, Paulo Mesquita, PhD, Emma M. Rhodes on cover article Mitochondrial remodelling supports migration in white-crowned sparrows royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rs…

In our latest pub (& journal cover), we found that mitochondrial fission and fusion play a role in the up and down-regulation of mitochondrial respiration, allowing for migratory movements in White-crowned Sparrows. Congrats Paulo Mesquita, PhD, Emma M. Rhodes royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rs…

Nature published a highlight of research by Paulo Mesquita, PhD Emma M. Rhodes Wendy Hood showing that changes in mito morphology enable long-distance migration. A little bird flies high thanks to mighty mitochondria nature.com/articles/d4158…

Our latest paper from the MitoMobile adventures showing that mitochondrial remodelling supports bird migration just got highlighted at Nature. A little bird flies high thanks to mighty mitochondria nature.com/articles/d4158…

We just got a nature highlight for paper #2 of our White-crowned Sparrow work! 🥳

Fun night out with Hill/Hood Wendy Hood labbers present and past. #SICB2025

Red house finch plumage (via carotenoids) is associated with mito coloration, and a coloration gene is in the mitochondrial inner membrane, but the predicted primary conversion gene (CYP2J19) appears to localize to the ER (not mito)! Great talk by Rebecca Koch at #SICB2025

Nice writeup of a productive collaboration between the Smithsonian, George Mason U, and Auburn. Kevin Bennett HC Lim Auburn teams with Smithsonian to decode bird plumage mysteries wire.auburn.edu/content/cosam/…

Our #AUMNH Ornithologist Geoffrey Hill teams with Smithsonian to decode bird plumage mysteries Read more about it⬇️ wire.auburn.edu/content/cosam/…

Great review on mitochondrial lipids Katsu Funai why is it critical for the outer and inner membranes to have different lipid composition? cell.com/cell-metabolis…

After decades of creeping along, carotenoid honest signaling research is moving at warp speed.CYP2J19 & BDH1L localize to ER (not mito) and House Finches do not use CYP2J19. The implications are huge. Paper by Rebecca Koch Matthew Toomey Yufeng Zhang onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11…