Professor Bernard Degnan
Professor

Bernard Degnan

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52467

Availability

Professor Bernard Degnan is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Bioinformatics and computational biology Biological Sciences Evolution of developmental systems Gene expression (incl. microarray and other genome-wide approaches) Genetics Genome structure and regulation Genomics and transcriptomics Invertebrate biology Molecular evolution Zoology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, California State University-Long Beach
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Genomes, Development & Evolution

    We are interested in the genomic, cellular and developmental mechanisms that underpin the evolution, formation and functioning of animals. Our lab studies a range of coral reef invertebrates, some that have economic or environmental value and others that act as models to address fundamental questions in biology and biomedicine.

  • 1. Origin of animal complexity

    We seek to understand the nature and evolution of the genome-encoded rules governing animal systems, including development, stem cells and regeneration.

  • 2. Marine biology and biotechnology

    We undertake basic, strategic and applied research into the molecular, cellular and developmental biology of coral reef invertebrates, including development of novel biocontrol strategies.

  • 3. Genomics and evolution of biomineralization

    We study the formation and patterning of complex biomaterials comprising marine skeletons and shells, some which are of commercial value.

Search Professor Bernard Degnan’s works on UQ eSpace

298 works between 1988 and 2024
All (298) Journal Article (252) Book Chapter (11) Conference Publication (34) Other Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 298 works

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Deep conservation of the enhancer regulatory code in animals

Wong, Emily S., Zheng, Dawei, Tan, Siew Z., Bower, Neil L., Garside, Victoria, Vanwalleghem, Gilles, Gaiti, Federico, Scott, Ethan, Hogan, Benjamin M., Kikuchi, Kazu, McGlinn, Edwina, Francois, Mathias and Degnan, Bernard M. (2020). Deep conservation of the enhancer regulatory code in animals. Science, 370 (6517) 681, 1-9. doi: 10.1126/science.aax8137

Deep conservation of the enhancer regulatory code in animals

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Convergent evolution of a vertebrate-like methylome in a marine sponge

de Mendoza, Alex, Hatleberg, William L., Pang, Kevin, Leininger, Sven, Bogdanovic, Ozren, Pflueger, Jahnvi, Buckberry, Sam, Technau, Ulrich, Hejnol, Andreas, Adamska, Maja, Degnan, Bernard M., Degnan, Sandie M. and Lister, Ryan (2019). Convergent evolution of a vertebrate-like methylome in a marine sponge. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 3 (10), 1464-1473. doi: 10.1038/s41559-019-0983-2

Convergent evolution of a vertebrate-like methylome in a marine sponge

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Pluripotency and the origin of animal multicellularity

Sogabe, Shunsuke, Hatleberg, William L., Kocot, Kevin M., Say, Tahsha E., Stoupin, Daniel, Roper, Kathrein E., Fernandez-Valverde, Selene L., Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2019). Pluripotency and the origin of animal multicellularity. Nature, 570 (7762), 519-522. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1290-4

Pluripotency and the origin of animal multicellularity

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Early metazoan cell type diversity and the evolution of multicellular gene regulation

Sebé-Pedrós, Arnau, Chomsky, Elad, Pang, Kevin, Lara-Astiaso, David, Gaiti, Federico, Mukamel, Zohar, Amit, Ido, Hejnol, Andreas, Degnan, Bernard M. and Tanay, Amos (2018). Early metazoan cell type diversity and the evolution of multicellular gene regulation. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2 (7), 1176-1188. doi: 10.1038/s41559-018-0575-6

Early metazoan cell type diversity and the evolution of multicellular gene regulation

Featured

2017

Journal Article

The origin of Metazoa: a unicellular perspective

Sebe-Pedros, Arnau, Degnan, Bernard M. and Ruiz-Trillo, Inaki (2017). The origin of Metazoa: a unicellular perspective. Nature Reviews Genetics, 18 (8), 498-512. doi: 10.1038/nrg.2017.21

The origin of Metazoa: a unicellular perspective

Featured

2017

Journal Article

Landscape of histone modifications in a sponge reveals the origin of animal cis-regulatory complexity

Gaiti, Federico, Jindrich, Katia, Fernandez-Valverde, Selene L., Roper, Kathrein E., Degnan, Bernard M. and Tanurdzic, Milos (2017). Landscape of histone modifications in a sponge reveals the origin of animal cis-regulatory complexity. Elife, 6 e22194. doi: 10.7554/eLife.22194

Landscape of histone modifications in a sponge reveals the origin of animal cis-regulatory complexity

Featured

2017

Journal Article

Co-option and de novo gene evolution underlie molluscan shell diversity

Aguilera, Felipe, McDougall, Carmel and Degnan, Bernard M. (2017). Co-option and de novo gene evolution underlie molluscan shell diversity. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 34 (4), 779-792. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msw294

Co-option and de novo gene evolution underlie molluscan shell diversity

Featured

2017

Journal Article

The crown-of-thorns starfish genome as a guide for biocontrol of this coral reef pest

Hall, Michael R., Kocot, Kevin M., Baughman, Kenneth W., Fernandez-Valverde, Selene L., Gauthier, Marie E. A., Hatleberg, William L. ., Krishnan, Arunkumar, McDougall, Carmel, Motti, Cherie A., Shoguchi, Eiichi, Wang, Tianfang, Xiang, Xueyan, Zhao, Min, Bose, Utpal, Shinzato, Chuya, Hisata, Kanako, Fujie, Manabu, Kanda, Miyuki, Cummins, Scott F., Satoh, Noriyuki, Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2017). The crown-of-thorns starfish genome as a guide for biocontrol of this coral reef pest. Nature, 544 (7649), 231-234. doi: 10.1038/nature22033

The crown-of-thorns starfish genome as a guide for biocontrol of this coral reef pest

Featured

2016

Journal Article

An ancient role for nitric oxide in regulating the animal pelagobenthic life cycle: evidence from a marine sponge

Ueda, Nobuo, Richards, Gemma S., Degnan, Bernard M., Kranz, Alexandrea, Adamska, Maja, Croll, Roger P. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2016). An ancient role for nitric oxide in regulating the animal pelagobenthic life cycle: evidence from a marine sponge. Scientific Reports, 6 (37546) 37546, 37546. doi: 10.1038/srep37546

An ancient role for nitric oxide in regulating the animal pelagobenthic life cycle: evidence from a marine sponge

Featured

2016

Journal Article

The mid-developmental transition and the evolution of animal body plans

Levin, Michal, Anavy, Leon, Cole, Alison G., Winter, Eitan, Mostov, Natalia, Khair, Sally, Senderovich, Naftalie, Kovalev, Ekaterina, Silver, David H., Feder, Martin, Fernandez-Valverde, Selene L., Nakanishi, Nagayasu, Simmons, David, Simakov, Oleg, Larsson, Tomas, Liu, Shang-Yun, Jerafi-Vider, Ayelet, Yaniv, Karina, Ryan, Joseph F., Martindale, Mark Q., Rink, Jochen C., Arendt, Detlev, Degnan, Sandie M., Degnan, Bernard M., Hashimshony, Tamar and Yanai, Itai (2016). The mid-developmental transition and the evolution of animal body plans. Nature, 531 (7596), 637-641. doi: 10.1038/nature16994

The mid-developmental transition and the evolution of animal body plans

2024

Journal Article

Seasonal tissue-specific gene expression in wild crown-of-thorns starfish reveals reproductive and stress-related transcriptional systems

Morin, Marie, Jönsson, Mathias, Wang, Conan K., Craik, David J., Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2024). Seasonal tissue-specific gene expression in wild crown-of-thorns starfish reveals reproductive and stress-related transcriptional systems. PLOS Biology, 22 (5) e3002620, e3002620. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002620

Seasonal tissue-specific gene expression in wild crown-of-thorns starfish reveals reproductive and stress-related transcriptional systems

2024

Journal Article

Developmental gene expression in the eyes of the pygmy squid Xipholeptos notoides

Koller, David, Kocot, Kevin M., Degnan, Bernard M. and Wollesen, Tim (2024). Developmental gene expression in the eyes of the pygmy squid Xipholeptos notoides. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution, 342 (7), 483-498. doi: 10.1002/jez.b.23270

Developmental gene expression in the eyes of the pygmy squid Xipholeptos notoides

2023

Journal Article

Potential for host-symbiont communication via neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in an aneural animal, the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica

Xiang, Xueyan, Vilar Gomez, Arturo A., Blomberg, Simone P., Yuan, Huifang, Degnan, Bernard M. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2023). Potential for host-symbiont communication via neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in an aneural animal, the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 17 ARTN 1250694, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1250694

Potential for host-symbiont communication via neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in an aneural animal, the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica

2023

Journal Article

Captivity induces a sweeping and sustained genomic response in a starfish

Morin, Marie, Jönsson, Mathias, Wang, Conan K., Craik, David J., Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2023). Captivity induces a sweeping and sustained genomic response in a starfish. Molecular Ecology, 32 (13), 3541-3556. doi: 10.1111/mec.16947

Captivity induces a sweeping and sustained genomic response in a starfish

2023

Journal Article

HIV promotes atherosclerosis via circulating extracellular vesicle microRNAs

Da Fonseca Ferreira, Andrea, Wei, Jianqin, Zhang, Lukun, Macon, Conrad J., Degnan, Bernard, Jayaweera, Dushyantha, Hare, Joshua M., Kolber, Michael A., Bellio, Michael, Khan, Aisha, Pan, Yue, Dykxhoorn, Derek M., Wang, Liyong and Dong, Chunming (2023). HIV promotes atherosclerosis via circulating extracellular vesicle microRNAs. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (8) 7567, 1-24. doi: 10.3390/ijms24087567

HIV promotes atherosclerosis via circulating extracellular vesicle microRNAs

2023

Journal Article

How larvae and life cycles evolve

Degnan, Bernard M. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2023). How larvae and life cycles evolve. Trends in Genetics, 39 (7), 528-530. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.03.008

How larvae and life cycles evolve

2022

Journal Article

Sex-specific expression of pheromones and other signals in gravid starfish

Jönsson, Mathias, Morin, Marie, Wang, Conan K., Craik, David J., Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2022). Sex-specific expression of pheromones and other signals in gravid starfish. BMC Biology, 20 (1) 288, 1-18. doi: 10.1186/s12915-022-01491-0

Sex-specific expression of pheromones and other signals in gravid starfish

2022

Journal Article

Gene activation of metazoan Fox transcription factors at the onset of metamorphosis in the marine demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica

Yuan, Huifang, Hatleberg, William L., Degnan, Bernard M. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2022). Gene activation of metazoan Fox transcription factors at the onset of metamorphosis in the marine demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Development, Growth and Differentiation, 64 (8), 455-468. doi: 10.1111/dgd.12812

Gene activation of metazoan Fox transcription factors at the onset of metamorphosis in the marine demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica

2022

Journal Article

Ribosomal RNA-depletion provides an efficient method for successful dual RNA-Seq expression profiling of a marine sponge holobiont

Xiang, Xueyan, Poli, Davide, Degnan, Bernard M. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2022). Ribosomal RNA-depletion provides an efficient method for successful dual RNA-Seq expression profiling of a marine sponge holobiont. Marine Biotechnology, 24 (4), 722-732. doi: 10.1007/s10126-022-10138-8

Ribosomal RNA-depletion provides an efficient method for successful dual RNA-Seq expression profiling of a marine sponge holobiont

2022

Journal Article

Phototransduction in a marine sponge provides insights into the origin of animal vision

Wong, Eunice, Anggono, Victor, Williams, Stephen R., Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2022). Phototransduction in a marine sponge provides insights into the origin of animal vision. iScience, 25 (6) 104436, 104436. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104436

Phototransduction in a marine sponge provides insights into the origin of animal vision

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2026
    Origin and evolution of animal-bacterial symbiosis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Innovation Program
    Great Barrier Reef Foundation
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Evolution of environmental regulation of cell states in animal life cycles
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Marine sponge-microbe interactions and the origin of animal innate immunity
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Advanced Brightfield and Fluorescent High Speed and Throughput Slide Scanner for biological, medical, materials science, and agricultural applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Biocontrol of crown-of-thorns starfish using genomics and proteomics
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Advanced imaging with wide spectrum molecular, quantitative and morphological applications in biological research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Epifluorescent and live-cell imaging microscopes for the investigation of host-pathogen interactions and for molecular and cellular biology
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    How do sponges and bacteria together maintain productivity on coral reefs?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Origin of the animal regulatory genome
    UQ Development Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Evolutionary origin of stem cells and the emergence of animal complexity
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Translating genomic discoveries into improved commercial outcomes for the South Sea Pearl industry
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Sequencing, assembly and annotation of the crown-of-thorns starfish genome
    Australian Institute of Marine Science
    Open grant
  • 2014
    How do Molluscs get calcium to their shells?
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Origin of genomically-encoded communication in animals: deciphering the role of peptide signalling in the sea sponge Amphimedon queenslandica
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2018
    Origin, evolution and roles of cardinal genomic features underpinning animal multicellular complexity
    ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    ResTeach Funding 2012 0.1 FTE School of Biological Sciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Scanning electron microscope to house 3-Dimensional Sectioning Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Science on the continental shelf: Securing our deep-sea biodiversity for the future
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Tooling-up non-model organisms in the post-genomic era: equipment for the analysis of molecular and cellular processes in animals of evolutionary and commercial interest
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2015
    Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Origin of animal sensory and nervous systems: a case study in cell type evolution
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Building Capacity in Quantitative Genomics
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    ResTeach 2009 0.2 FTE School of Biological Sciences
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    An investigation of the underlying mechanisms that control gender and fertility in the Moreton Bay Bug, Thenus orientalis
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Heron Island Research Station Connectivity Upgrade
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2008
    The essence of being an animal: sponge allorecognition and the evolution of individuality
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    Deep Downunder: designing a deep-sea exploration and discovery capability for Australia
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    A High Resolution Analytical Scanning Electron Microscope for South-East Queensland
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Australian Mirror of the UCSC Genome Database and Browser
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    CSIRO Flagship - Gonad development and sex differentiation in the abalone
    CSIRO Flagships Collaboration Fund
    Open grant
  • 2007
    Evolution of the biofabrication of mineralized structures in animals
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    The sponge genome project and the evolution of multicellularity: using comparative genomics and developmental biology to reconstruct the first animals
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Enhancing the pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Aquaculture of the tropical abalone: identifying and selecting for factors promoting high settlement, survival and growth
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    The Link Between Environmental Stress And Disease Onset In Prawn Aquaculture
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005
    NHMRC_Equipment Grant = Purchase of a biological transmission electron microscope (TEM)
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    The making of a sea shell: function and evolution of genes encoding calcareous architectures of phenomenal strength purity and beauty
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Early animal evolution: reconstructing the last common metazoan ancestor through the analysis of developmental and structural genes in sponges
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Biofabrication of High-performance Marine Structures: Characterisaton of Shell-matrix Genes Required for Production of the Strong Microlaminates fo the Abalone Shell
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2005
    Enhancing aquaculture production of the tropical abalone using complementary genetic and environmental approaches
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Understanding the molecular basis of marine invertebrate larval settlement and metamorphosis using complementary molecular, developmental, chemical and ecological approaches
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2004
    The basis of white phase of the western rock lobster (panulirus cygnus)
    ARC Collaborative Grant (SPIRT)
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2003
    Evolution of Animal Body Plans as Revealed by Developmental Gene Expression Patterns in Molluscs, Annelids and other Lophotrochozoans.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Determining factors that control sponge infaunal community structure.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Allelopathic effects between the tropical marine sponge Haliclona sp. and other marine invertebrates
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Analysis of the expression of POU genes in rapidly growing and biologically castrated tropical abalone
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2000
    Cultivation of tropical abalone (haliotis asinina): development of a new mariculture industry for tropical Australia
    M G Kailis Exports Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2000
    Cultivation of the Tropical Abalone (Haliotis Asinina): Development of a new Mariculture Industry for Tropical Australia
    ARC Collaborative Grant (SPIRT)
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2000
    Cultivation of the tropical abalone (haliotis asinina): development of a new mariculture industry for tropical Australia
    ARC (Australian Postgraduate Award-Industry)
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2000
    Cultivation of the tropical abalone (haliotis asinina): development of a new mariculture industry for tropical Australia
    Mr D.J. Christmas
    Open grant
  • 1998
    The evolution of pattern formation in chordates: The effect of retinoic acid on gene expression and morphogenesis in the ascidian
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Identifying regulators of growth and reporduction in the tropical abalone: mapping transcription factor genes in brain ganglia
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997
    The role of HOX genes in the most primitive metazoans, the sponges
    UQ Foundation
    Open grant
  • 1995
    Aquaculture of the tropical abalone, Haliotis asinina: Systematic production of abalone seed, and genetic analysis of growth and development
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1997
    The molecular basis of inducible muscle cell dedifferentiation in the lower chordate Herdmania momus
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Bernard Degnan is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Bernard Degnan directly for media enquiries about:

  • Aquaculture
  • Biotechnology and aquaculture
  • Comparative genomices
  • Evolution

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au