Sandie Degnan
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/724 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/920
Professor
Sandie Degnan
Email: : s.degnan@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 334 69005
Positions
Affiliate of Centre for Marine Science : Centre for Marine Science : Faculty of Science
Professorial Research Fellow : School of the Environment : Faculty of Science
Overview
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!
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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
Works
Search Professor Sandie Degnan’s works on UQ eSpace
All (100) Journal Article (85) Other Outputs (1) Conference Publication (8) Book Chapter (6)
2025
Journal Article
Neuroendocrine regulation of the metamorphic transition of giant clams
Tan, Keana, Mateo-Matriano, Danielle Mae, Degnan, Sandie and Conaco, Cecilia (2025). Neuroendocrine regulation of the metamorphic transition of giant clams. Aquaculture, 606 742563, 742563. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742563
Neuroendocrine regulation of the metamorphic transition of giant clams
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
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 1250694, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1250694
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
Antioxidant enzymes that target hydrogen peroxide are conserved across the animal kingdom, from sponges to mammals
Hewitt, Olivia H. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2023). Antioxidant enzymes that target hydrogen peroxide are conserved across the animal kingdom, from sponges to mammals. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 2510, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-29304-6
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
Distribution and diversity of ROS-generating enzymes across the animal kingdom, with a focus on sponges (Porifera)
Hewitt, Olivia H. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2022). Distribution and diversity of ROS-generating enzymes across the animal kingdom, with a focus on sponges (Porifera). BMC Biology, 20 (1) 212, 212. doi: 10.1186/s12915-022-01414-z
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
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
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
2022
Journal Article
Distal regulation, silencers, and a shared combinatorial syntax are hallmarks of animal embryogenesis
Cornejo-Paramo, Paola, Roper, Kathrein, Degnan, Sandie, Degnan, Bernard and Wong, Emily S (2022). Distal regulation, silencers, and a shared combinatorial syntax are hallmarks of animal embryogenesis. Genome Research, 32 (3), 474-487. doi: 10.1101/gr.275864.121
2022
Journal Article
Grand challenges in coevolution
Medina, Mónica, Baker, David M., Baltrus, David A., Bennett, Gordon M., Cardini, Ulisse, Correa, Adrienne M. S., Degnan, Sandie M., Christa, Gregor, Kim, Eunsoo, Li, Jingchun, Nash, David R., Marzinelli, Ezequiel, Nishiguchi, Michele, Prada, Carlos, Roth, Melissa S., Saha, Mahasweta, Smith, Christopher I., Theis, Kevin R. and Zaneveld, Jesse (2022). Grand challenges in coevolution. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9 618251. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2021.618251
Grand challenges in coevolution
2020
Book Chapter
Staining and Tracking Methods for Studying Sponge Cell Dynamics
Borchiellini, Carole, Degnan, Sandie M., Le Goff, Emilie, Rocher, Caroline, Vernale, Amélie, Baghdiguian, Stephen, Séjourné, Nina, Marschal, Florent, Le Bivic, André, Godefroy, Nelly, Degnan, Bernard M. and Renard, Emmanuelle (2020). Staining and Tracking Methods for Studying Sponge Cell Dynamics. Developmental Biology of the Sea Urchin and Other Marine Invertebrates . (pp. 81-97) edited by David J. Carroll and Stephen A. Stricker. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0974-3_5
Staining and Tracking Methods for Studying Sponge Cell Dynamics
2020
Journal Article
Molecular and behavioural evidence that interdependent photo ‐ and chemosensory systems regulate larval settlement in a marine sponge
Say, Tahsha E. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2020). Molecular and behavioural evidence that interdependent photo ‐ and chemosensory systems regulate larval settlement in a marine sponge. Molecular Ecology, 29 (2) mec.15318, 247-261. doi: 10.1111/mec.15318
2020
Journal Article
Arginine biosynthesis by a bacterial symbiont enables nitric oxide production and facilitates larval settlement in the marine-sponge host
Song, Hao, Hewitt, Olivia H. and Degnan, Sandie M. (2020). Arginine biosynthesis by a bacterial symbiont enables nitric oxide production and facilitates larval settlement in the marine-sponge host. Current Biology, 31 (2), 433-437.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.051
2019
Journal Article
Co-expression of synaptic genes in the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica uncovers ancient neural submodules
Wong, Eunice, Mölter, Jan, Anggono, Victor, Degnan, Sandie M. and Degnan, Bernard M. (2019). Co-expression of synaptic genes in the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica uncovers ancient neural submodules. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 15781, 15781. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-51282-x
2019
Journal Article
Author correction: The mid-developmental transition and the evolution of animal body plans (Nature, (2016), 531, 7596, (637-641), 10.1038/nature16994)
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 (2019). Author correction: The mid-developmental transition and the evolution of animal body plans (Nature, (2016), 531, 7596, (637-641), 10.1038/nature16994). Nature, 575 (7782), E3-E3. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1698-x
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
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
Funding
Current funding
- 2023 - 2026
Origin and evolution of animal-bacterial symbiosis
ARC Discovery Projects
Past funding
- 2021 - 2024
Evolution of environmental regulation of cell states in animal life cycles
ARC Discovery Projects
Open grant - 2020 - 2025
Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Innovation Program
Great Barrier Reef Foundation
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
View all 22 past funded projects View less
Supervision
Availability
Professor Sandie Degnan is: : Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
- Doctor Philosophy
##### Transposons, Stress, and Evolution in C. elegans
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Paul Ebert
Completed supervision
- 2023
Doctor Philosophy
##### The role of redox signalling in regulating an animal-bacterial symbiosis
Principal Advisor - 2022
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Laura Rix - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
##### Investigating host-symbiont crosstalk in the coral reef demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan - 2019
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Eugeni Roura - 2018
Doctor Philosophy
##### Horizontal gene transfer in the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sassan Asgari - 2016
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Barnes - 2014
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Lyn Cook - 2013
Master Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan, Professor Phil Hugenholtz - 2013
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan - 2011
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan - 2010
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan - 2006
Doctor Philosophy
##### PROCESSES LEADING TO SPECIATION IN AUSTRALIAN WET TROPICS FAUNA: DIVERGENCE AMONG THREE SIBLING LINEAGES OF SKINKS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham - Doctor Philosophy
##### Using integrative physiology to optimise diets for sustainable aquaculture in fish
Principal Advisor - 2026
Doctor Philosophy
##### Cell state changes during metamorphosis in the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stefan Thor, Professor Bernard Degnan - 2024
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan - 2023
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Victor Anggono, Professor Bernard Degnan - 2023
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Conan Wang, Professor Bernard Degnan - 2020
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Victor Anggono, Professor Bernard Degnan - 2017
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan - 2017
Doctor Philosophy
##### Modelling Sponge-Symbiont Metabolism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan - 2016
Doctor Philosophy
##### Modifying penaeid-trawl spreading mechanisms to improve environmental efficiency
Associate Advisor - 2015
Doctor Philosophy
##### Self-nonself recognition: Genomic and transcriptomic insights from the sponge aggregation factors
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan, Professor Andrew Barnes - 2012
Doctor Philosophy
##### Growth and reproduction related neuropeptides in the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Barnes, Professor Bernard Degnan - 2012
Master Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Barnes - 2007
Doctor Philosophy
##### PHYLOGEOGRAPHY AND SPECIATION IN TROPICAL ABALONE, Haliotis Asinina
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan
View all 26 completed supervisions View less
Media
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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