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)

61 - 80 of 99 works

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)

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, 57-64. doi: 10.2174/1874450801004010057

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

2009

Journal Article

Carry-over effect of larval settlement cue on postlarval gene expression in the marine gastropod Haliotis asinina

Williams, Elizabeth A. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2009). Carry-over effect of larval settlement cue on postlarval gene expression in the marine gastropod Haliotis asinina. Molecular Ecology, 18 (21), 4434-4449. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04371.x

Carry-over effect of larval settlement cue on postlarval gene expression in the marine gastropod Haliotis asinina

2009

Journal Article

Settlement specifics: Effective induction of abalone settlement and metamorphosis corresponds to biomolecular composition of natural cues

Williams, E.A., Cummins, S.F. and Degnan, S.M. (2009). Settlement specifics: Effective induction of abalone settlement and metamorphosis corresponds to biomolecular composition of natural cues. Communicative and Integrative Biology, 2 (4), 347-349. doi: 10.4161/cib.2.4.8553

Settlement specifics: Effective induction of abalone settlement and metamorphosis corresponds to biomolecular composition of natural cues

2009

Journal Article

Widespread transcriptional changes pre-empt the critical pelagic–benthic transition in the vetigastropod Haliotis asinina

Williams, Elizabeth A., Degnan, Bernard M., Gunter, Helen, Jackson, Daniel J., Woodcroft, Ben J. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2009). Widespread transcriptional changes pre-empt the critical pelagic–benthic transition in the vetigastropod Haliotis asinina. Molecular Ecology, 18 (5), 1006-1025. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.04078.x

Widespread transcriptional changes pre-empt the critical pelagic–benthic transition in the vetigastropod Haliotis asinina

2009

Book Chapter

The Demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica: Reconstructing the ancestral metazoan genome and deciphering the origin of animal multicellularity

Bernard M. Degnan, Adamska, Maja, Craigie, Alina, Degnan, Sandie M., Fahey, Bryony, Gauthier, Marie, Hooper, John N. A., Larroux, Claire, Leys, Sally P., Lovas, Erica and Richards, Gemma S. (2009). The Demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica: Reconstructing the ancestral metazoan genome and deciphering the origin of animal multicellularity. Emerging Model Organisms: A Laboratory Manual. (pp. 139-166) edited by Gann, Alexander and Crotty, David. Cold Spring Harbor, NY: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

The Demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica: Reconstructing the ancestral metazoan genome and deciphering the origin of animal multicellularity

2008

Journal Article

The demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica: Reconstructing the ancestral metazoan genome and deciphering the origin of animal multicellularity

Degnan, Bernard M., Adamska, Maja, Craigie, Alina, Degnan, Sandie M., Fahey, Bryony, Gauthier, Marie, Hooper, John N. A., Larroux, Claire, Leys, Sally P., Lovas, Erica and Richards, Gemma S. (2008). The demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica: Reconstructing the ancestral metazoan genome and deciphering the origin of animal multicellularity. Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, 3 (12), 1-6. doi: 10.1101/pdb.emo108

The demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica: Reconstructing the ancestral metazoan genome and deciphering the origin of animal multicellularity

2008

Journal Article

Isolation of Amphimedon Developmental Material

Leys, Sally P., Larroux, Claire, Gauthier, Marie, Adamska, Maja, Fahey, Bryony, Richards, Gemma S., Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2008). Isolation of Amphimedon Developmental Material. Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, 3 (12), pdb.prot5095. doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot5095

Isolation of Amphimedon Developmental Material

2008

Journal Article

Genotyping individual Amphimedon embryos, larvae, and adults

Degnan, Sandie M., Craigie, Alina and Degnan, Bernard M. (2008). Genotyping individual Amphimedon embryos, larvae, and adults. Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, 3 (12), pdb.prot5098. doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot5098

Genotyping individual Amphimedon embryos, larvae, and adults

2008

Journal Article

Articulated Coralline Algae of the Genus Amphiroa Are Highly Effective Natural Inducers of Settlement in the Tropical Abalone Haliotis asinina

Williams, Elizabeth A., Craigie, Alina, Yeates, Alice and Degnan, Sandie M. (2008). Articulated Coralline Algae of the Genus Amphiroa Are Highly Effective Natural Inducers of Settlement in the Tropical Abalone Haliotis asinina. Biological Bulletin, 215 (1), 98-107. doi: 10.2307/25470687

Articulated Coralline Algae of the Genus Amphiroa Are Highly Effective Natural Inducers of Settlement in the Tropical Abalone Haliotis asinina

2007

Journal Article

Wnt and TGF-b expression in the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica and the origin of metazoan embryonic patterning

Adamska, Maja, Degnan, Sandie M., Green, Kathryn M., Adamski, Marcin, Craigie, Alina, Larroux, Claire and Degnan, Bernard M. (2007). Wnt and TGF-b expression in the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica and the origin of metazoan embryonic patterning. PLoS One, 2 (10) e1031, 1-6. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001031

Wnt and TGF-b expression in the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica and the origin of metazoan embryonic patterning

2007

Journal Article

Pleistocene isolation and recent gene flow in Haliotis asinina, an Indo-Pacific vetigastropod with limited dispersal capacity

Imron, Jeffrey, Bernadine, Hale, Peter, Degnan, Bernard M. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2007). Pleistocene isolation and recent gene flow in Haliotis asinina, an Indo-Pacific vetigastropod with limited dispersal capacity. Molecular Ecology, 16 (2), 289-304. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.03141.x

Pleistocene isolation and recent gene flow in Haliotis asinina, an Indo-Pacific vetigastropod with limited dispersal capacity

2007

Journal Article

The NK homeobox gene cluster predates the origin of Hox genes

Larroux, C., Fahey, B., Degnan, S. M., Adamski, M., Rokhsar, D. S. and Degnan, B. M. (2007). The NK homeobox gene cluster predates the origin of Hox genes. Current Biology, 17 (8), 706-710. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2007.03.008

The NK homeobox gene cluster predates the origin of Hox genes

2006

Journal Article

The effect of larval age on morphology and gene expression during ascidian metamorphosis

Jacobs, Molly, Degnan, Sandie M., Woods, Rick, Williams, Elizabeth, Roper, Kathrein E., Green, Kathryn and Degnan, Bernard M. (2006). The effect of larval age on morphology and gene expression during ascidian metamorphosis. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 46 (6), 760-776. doi: 10.1093/icb/icl015

The effect of larval age on morphology and gene expression during ascidian metamorphosis

2006

Journal Article

Evolution in temperate and tropical seas: Disparate patterns in southern hemisphere abalone (Mollusca : Vetigastropoda : Haliotidae)

Degnan, Sandie M., Imron, Geiger, Daniel L. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2006). Evolution in temperate and tropical seas: Disparate patterns in southern hemisphere abalone (Mollusca : Vetigastropoda : Haliotidae). Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution, 41 (1), 249-256. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.06.023

Evolution in temperate and tropical seas: Disparate patterns in southern hemisphere abalone (Mollusca : Vetigastropoda : Haliotidae)

2006

Journal Article

Heritability estimates for growth in the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina using microsatellites to assign parentage

Lucas, T., Macbeth, M., Degnan, S. M., Knibb, W. and Degnan, B. M. (2006). Heritability estimates for growth in the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina using microsatellites to assign parentage. Aquaculture, 259 (1-4), 146-152. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2006.05.039

Heritability estimates for growth in the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina using microsatellites to assign parentage

2006

Conference Publication

The origin of the metazoan biphasic life cycle: New insights from an ancient phylum

Degnan, S. M. and Degnan, B. M. (2006). The origin of the metazoan biphasic life cycle: New insights from an ancient phylum. SICB Annual Meeting 2006, Orlando, FL, January 4-8, 2006. McLean. VA: Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. doi: 10.1093/icb/45.6.955

The origin of the metazoan biphasic life cycle: New insights from an ancient phylum

2006

Journal Article

The origin of the pelagobenthic metazoan life cycle: what's sex got to do with it?

Degnan, S. M. and Degnan, B. M. (2006). The origin of the pelagobenthic metazoan life cycle: what's sex got to do with it?. Integrative And Comparative Biology, 46 (6), 683-690. doi: 10.1093/icb/icl028

The origin of the pelagobenthic metazoan life cycle: what's sex got to do with it?

2002

Journal Article

Microevolution in island forms: the roles of drift and directional selection in morphological divergence of a passerine bird

Clegg, S. M., Degnan, S. M., Moritz, C. C., Estoup, A., Kikkawa, J. and Owens, I. P. (2002). Microevolution in island forms: the roles of drift and directional selection in morphological divergence of a passerine bird. Evolution, 56 (10), 2090-2099. doi: 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2002.tb00134.x

Microevolution in island forms: the roles of drift and directional selection in morphological divergence of a passerine bird

2002

Journal Article

Genetic consequences of sequential founder events by an island-colonizing bird

Clegg, S. M., Degnan, S. M., Kikkawa, J., Moritz, C.C., Estoup, A. and Owens, I. P. (2002). Genetic consequences of sequential founder events by an island-colonizing bird. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 99 (12), 8127-8132. doi: 10.1073/pnas.102583399

Genetic consequences of sequential founder events by an island-colonizing bird

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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