Professor Sandie Degnan
Professor

Sandie Degnan

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69005

Background

Evolutionary and ecological genomics of marine invertebrate animals.

My lab's research is driven by a fascination with genomes that carry within them endless, brilliant solutions forged by evolution over millions of years in response to a constantly changing ocean. We tap into this to learn how the genomes of coral reef invertebrates and their bacterial symbionts interact with each other, and with the environment, throughout their life cycle. We study these gene-environment interactions in evolutionary and ecological contexts, using genomic, molecular and cellular approaches combined with behavioural ecology in natural populations.

We work often with embryonic and larval life history stages of indirect developers, as these stages are crucial to the maintenance and evolution of marine populations. Our current focus is around larval settlement and metamorphosis in the holobiont of the coral reef demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica. In recent years, our work has extended to functional genomic approaches to identify noval ways to control the coral reef pest, the Crown-of-Thorns starfish.

When not immersed in the molecular or computer lab, we are lucky enough to be immersed in the ocean, often in beautiful places!

Availability

Professor Sandie Degnan is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Animal cell and molecular biology Animal developmental and reproductive biology Animal immunology Behavioural ecology Bioinformatics and computational biology Biological Sciences Biological adaptation Developmental genetics (incl. sex determination) Ecology Evolution of developmental systems Gene expression (incl. microarray and other genome-wide approaches) Genetic immunology Genetics Genetics not elsewhere classified Genomics Invertebrate biology Life histories Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) Microbial ecology Microbiology Molecular evolution Phylogeny and comparative analysis Zoology

Search Professor Sandie Degnan’s works on UQ eSpace

99 works between 1992 and 2024
All (99) Journal Article (84) Book Chapter (6) Conference Publication (8) Other Outputs (1)

41 - 60 of 99 works

2014

Journal Article

Corrigendum to "Molecular and morphological systematics of the Ellisellidae (Coelenterata: Octocorallia): Parallel evolution in a globally distributed family of octocorals" [Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 73 (2014) 106-118] (DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.01.023)

Bilewitch, J. P., Ekins, M., Hooper, J. and Degnan, S. M. (2014). Corrigendum to "Molecular and morphological systematics of the Ellisellidae (Coelenterata: Octocorallia): Parallel evolution in a globally distributed family of octocorals" [Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 73 (2014) 106-118] (DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.01.023). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 78, 399-399. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.05.025

Corrigendum to "Molecular and morphological systematics of the Ellisellidae (Coelenterata: Octocorallia): Parallel evolution in a globally distributed family of octocorals" [Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 73 (2014) 106-118] (DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.01.023)

2014

Journal Article

Analysis of the biomass composition of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica on Heron Island Reef, Australia

Watson, Jabin R., Brennan, Timothy C. R., Degnan, Bernard M., Degnan, Sandie M. and Kromer, Jens O. (2014). Analysis of the biomass composition of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica on Heron Island Reef, Australia. Marine Drugs, 12 (6), 3733-3753. doi: 10.3390/md12063733

Analysis of the biomass composition of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica on Heron Island Reef, Australia

2014

Journal Article

The characterization of sponge NLRs provides insight into the origin and evolution of this innate immune gene family in animals

Yuen, Benedict, Bayes, Joanne M. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2014). The characterization of sponge NLRs provides insight into the origin and evolution of this innate immune gene family in animals. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 31 (1), 106-120. doi: 10.1093/molbev/mst174

The characterization of sponge NLRs provides insight into the origin and evolution of this innate immune gene family in animals

2013

Journal Article

Nitric oxide acts as a positive regulator to induce metamorphosis of the ascidian Herdmania momus

Ueda, Nobuo and Degnan, Sandie M. (2013). Nitric oxide acts as a positive regulator to induce metamorphosis of the ascidian Herdmania momus. PLoS ONE, 8 (9) e72797, e72797.1-e72797.16. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072797

Nitric oxide acts as a positive regulator to induce metamorphosis of the ascidian Herdmania momus

2013

Other Outputs

Marine Genomics: Sea Sponge and Other Invertebrate Genomic Resources for the Great Barrier Reef

Degnan, Bernard, Degnan, Sandra, Fernandez Valverde, Selene and Gauthier, Marie (2013). Marine Genomics: Sea Sponge and Other Invertebrate Genomic Resources for the Great Barrier Reef. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/9e2e4bc

Marine Genomics: Sea Sponge and Other Invertebrate Genomic Resources for the Great Barrier Reef

2012

Journal Article

Genomic insights into the marine sponge microbiome

Hentschel, Ute, Piel, Jorn, Degnan, Sandie M. and Taylor, Michael W. (2012). Genomic insights into the marine sponge microbiome. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 10 (9), 641-654. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro2839

Genomic insights into the marine sponge microbiome

2012

Journal Article

Functionalization of a protosynaptic gene expression network

Conaco, Cecilia, Bassett, Danielle S., Zhou, Hongjun, Arcila, Mary Luz, Degnan, Sandie M., Degnan, Bernard M. and Kosik, Kenneth S. (2012). Functionalization of a protosynaptic gene expression network. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109 (Supplement 1), 10612-10618. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1201890109

Functionalization of a protosynaptic gene expression network

2012

Journal Article

Marked changes in neuropeptide expression accompany broadcast spawnings in the gastropod Haliotis asinina

York, Patrick S., Cummins, Scott F., Degnan, Sandie M., Woodcroft, Ben J. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2012). Marked changes in neuropeptide expression accompany broadcast spawnings in the gastropod Haliotis asinina. Frontiers in Zoology, 9 (1) 9, 9.1-9.16. doi: 10.1186/1742-9994-9-9

Marked changes in neuropeptide expression accompany broadcast spawnings in the gastropod Haliotis asinina

2012

Journal Article

Transcriptome profiling of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica reveals genome-wide events that accompany major life cycle transitions

Conaco, Cecilia, Neveu, Pierre, Zhou, Hongjun, Arcila, Mary L., Degnan, Sandie M., Degnan, Bernard M. and Kosik, Kenneth S. (2012). Transcriptome profiling of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica reveals genome-wide events that accompany major life cycle transitions. BMC Genomics, 13 (1) 209, 209.1-209.19. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-209

Transcriptome profiling of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica reveals genome-wide events that accompany major life cycle transitions

2012

Journal Article

Differential expression of neuropeptides correlates with growth rate in cultivated Haliotis asinina (Vetigastropoda: Mollusca)

York, Patrick S., Cummins, Scott F., Lucas, Tim, Blomberg, Simon P., Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2012). Differential expression of neuropeptides correlates with growth rate in cultivated Haliotis asinina (Vetigastropoda: Mollusca). Aquaculture, 334-337, 159-168. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2011.12.019

Differential expression of neuropeptides correlates with growth rate in cultivated Haliotis asinina (Vetigastropoda: Mollusca)

2012

Journal Article

Variation in rates of early development in Haliotis asinina generate competent larvae of different ages

Jackson, Daniel J., Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2012). Variation in rates of early development in Haliotis asinina generate competent larvae of different ages. Frontiers in Zoology, 9 (1) 2, 2. doi: 10.1186/1742-9994-9-2

Variation in rates of early development in Haliotis asinina generate competent larvae of different ages

2012

Conference Publication

Nitric oxide as a regulator of marine invertebrate metamorphosis: behavioural and molecular insights

Ueda, N and Degnan, SM (2012). Nitric oxide as a regulator of marine invertebrate metamorphosis: behavioural and molecular insights. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology (SICB), Charleston Sc, Jan 03-07, 2012.

Nitric oxide as a regulator of marine invertebrate metamorphosis: behavioural and molecular insights

2011

Journal Article

Characterization of a GABA(A) receptor beta subunit in the abalone Haliotis asinina that is upregulated during larval development

Stewart, Praphaporn, Williams, Elizabeth A., Stewart, Michael J., Soonklang, Nantawan, Degnan, Sandie M., Cummins, Scott F., Hanna, Peter J. and Sobhon, Prasert (2011). Characterization of a GABA(A) receptor beta subunit in the abalone Haliotis asinina that is upregulated during larval development. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 410, 53-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jembe.2011.10.005

Characterization of a GABA(A) receptor beta subunit in the abalone Haliotis asinina that is upregulated during larval development

2011

Journal Article

Evolution of RNA-binding proteins in animals: Insights from genome-wide analysis in the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica

Kerner, Pierre, Degnan, Sandie M., Marchand, Lauriane, Degnan, Bernhard M. and Vervoort, Michel (2011). Evolution of RNA-binding proteins in animals: Insights from genome-wide analysis in the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 28 (8), 2289-2303. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msr046

Evolution of RNA-binding proteins in animals: Insights from genome-wide analysis in the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica

2011

Journal Article

A unique horizontal gene transfer event has provided the octocoral mitochondrial genome with an active mismatch repair gene that has potential for an unusual self-contained function

Bilewitch, Jaret P. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2011). A unique horizontal gene transfer event has provided the octocoral mitochondrial genome with an active mismatch repair gene that has potential for an unusual self-contained function. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11 (228) 228, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-228

A unique horizontal gene transfer event has provided the octocoral mitochondrial genome with an active mismatch repair gene that has potential for an unusual self-contained function

2011

Book Chapter

Emerging patterns in the regulation and evolution of marine invertebrate settlement and metamorphosis

Heyland, Andreas, Degnan, Sandie and Reitzel, Adam M. (2011). Emerging patterns in the regulation and evolution of marine invertebrate settlement and metamorphosis. Mechanisms of life history evolution: The genetics and physiology of life history traits and trade-offs. (pp. 29-42) edited by Thomas Flatt and Andreas Heyland. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Emerging patterns in the regulation and evolution of marine invertebrate settlement and metamorphosis

2010

Journal Article

The Amphimedon queenslandica genome and the evolution of animal complexity

Srivastava, Mansi, Simakov, Oleg, Chapman, Jarrod, Fahey, Bryony, Gauthier, Marie E. A., Mitros, Therese, Richards, Gemma S., Conaco, Cecilia, Dacre, Michael, Hellsten, Uffe, Larroux, Claire, Putnam, Nicholas H., Stanke, Mario, Adamska, Maja, Darling, Aaron, Degnan, Sandie M., Oakley, Todd H., Plachetzki, David C., Zhai, Yufeng F., Adamski, Marcin, Calcino, Andrew, Cummins, Scott F., Goodstein, David M., Harris, Christina, Jackson, Daniel J., Leys, Sally P., Shu, Shengqiang Q., Woodcroft, Ben J., Vervoort, Michel ... Rokhsar, Daniel S. (2010). The Amphimedon queenslandica genome and the evolution of animal complexity. Nature, 466 (7307), 720-726. doi: 10.1038/nature09201

The Amphimedon queenslandica genome and the evolution of animal complexity

2010

Journal Article

Identifying the germline in an equally cleaving mollusc: Vasa and Nanos expression during embryonic and larval development of the vetigastropod Haliotis asinina

Kranz, Alexandrea M, Tollenaere, Alina, Norris, Belinda J., Degnan, Bernard M. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2010). Identifying the germline in an equally cleaving mollusc: Vasa and Nanos expression during embryonic and larval development of the vetigastropod Haliotis asinina. Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution, 314B (4), 267-279. doi: 10.1002/jez.b.21336

Identifying the germline in an equally cleaving mollusc: Vasa and Nanos expression during embryonic and larval development of the vetigastropod Haliotis asinina

2010

Journal Article

The initiation of metamorphosis as an ancient polyphenic trait and its role in metazoan life-cycle evolution

Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2010). The initiation of metamorphosis as an ancient polyphenic trait and its role in metazoan life-cycle evolution. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, 365 (1540), 641-651. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2009.0248

The initiation of metamorphosis as an ancient polyphenic trait and its role in metazoan life-cycle evolution

2010

Journal Article

Remarkable consistency of larval release in the spermcast-mating demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica (Hooper and van Soest)

Maritz, Karin, Calcino, Andrew, Fahey, Bryony, Degnan, Bernie and Degnan, Sandie M. (2010). Remarkable consistency of larval release in the spermcast-mating demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica (Hooper and van Soest). The Open Marine Biology Journal, 4 (Special Issue #001), 57-64. doi: 10.2174/1874450801004010057

Remarkable consistency of larval release in the spermcast-mating demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica (Hooper and van Soest)

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
  • 2020 - 2024
    New Tools for Advancing Model Systems in Aquatic Symbiosis: Establishing marine sponges as models for evolutionary, ecological and mechanistic aspects of animal-bacterial symbiosis
    Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Marine sponge-microbe interactions and the origin of animal innate immunity
    ARC Discovery Projects
    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 - 2019
    Continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS) and ancillary preparation systems for carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope microanalysis for archaeology, biology, earth and environmental scie
    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
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    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 - 2014
    Genomic tools for the emerging tropical rock lobster aquaculture industry
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Larval dispersal and settlement mechanisms in the first genome-enabled Australian marine animal, Amphimedon queenslandica (Porifera)
    ARC Discovery 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
  • 2009
    Building Capacity in Quantitative Genomics
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2013
    The essence of being an animal: sponge allorecognition and the evolution of individuality
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Heron Island Research Station Connectivity Upgrade
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    Deep Downunder: designing a deep-sea exploration and discovery capability for Australia
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    CSIRO Flagship - Gonad development and sex differentiation in the abalone
    CSIRO Flagships Collaboration Fund
    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 - 2007
    Variation in larval gene expression in a marine invertebrate: implications for population divergence via differential settlement response
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1997
    Genetic and phenotypic consequences of colonisation of oceanic islands by silvereyes
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1995
    Phylogenetic status and population structure of the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina: a preliminary molecular analysis
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Sandie Degnan is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Sandie Degnan directly for media enquiries about:

  • ecological genetics
  • marine genomics
  • marine invertebrates
  • marine larval biology
  • marine molecular ecology

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