Evolution & Development; Molecular Marine Biology & Biotechnology
Evolutionary developmental biology.
My laboratory seeks to contribute to a mechanistic explanation for the origin and evolution of animal diversity through the analysis of developmental gene expression and function in tractable marine invertebrate models.
1. Origin of the metazoan body plans. Comparative genomics and development in sponges and other basal metazoans to infer the ancestral regulatory architecture underlying all animals.
2. Evolution of morphological novelties. Investigation of the role of gene duplication and co-option in the origin and diversification of taxon-specific novelties, such as the mollusc shell-producing mantle.
3. Origin & evolution of body plan diversity. Study of spiralian animal development (snails, worms and their allies) to understand how a suite of diverse body plans can evolve a common developmental ground plan.
Evolutionary and ecological functional genomics of marine invertebrates.
By assessing the effect of the environment on gene expression patterns in animals we seek to understand the relationship between genotypic variation and phenotype.
1. Larval settlement and metamorphosis. Analysis of the regulatory architecture associated with larval sensory systems and metamorphosis, and the effect of secondary metabolites (allelochemicals) on gene expression and phenotype of marine larvae
2. Variation in development and growth. Investigation of differences in individual gene expression profiles within and between families of commercially important shellfish, such as the abalone, subjected to a range of environments
Aquaculture and marine biotechnology.
My laboratory is addressing a number of problems in aquaculture through molecular genetics and molecular cell biology approaches. Recent industry and government partners include: M.G. Kailis Exports Pty Ltd (Fremantle); Western Australia Rock Lobster Association; Coral Coast Mariculture; Australian Institute of Marine Science; CSIRO Divisions of Marine Research & Livestock Industries; Queensland Department of Primary Industries.
1. Development of new tropical aquaculture industries. Development and commercialization of the tropical abalone, Haliotis asinina, and the saucer scallop, Amusium balloti, in tropical Australia and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific and U.S.A.
2. Molecular approaches to the health and production of shellfish. In collaboration with industry and governmental agencies, development of novel approaches to address problems in abalone growth rates, shrimp health (viral load and impact in relation to aquaculture stressors) and growth, and lobster colouration.
Selected Publications:
Larroux, C., Fahey, B., Degnan, S.M., Adamski, M., Rokhsar, D.S. and Degnan, B.M. (2007). NK homeobox gene cluster predates the origin of Hox genes. Curr. Biol. 17, 706-710
Jackson, D.J., Macis, L., Reitner, J., Degnan, B.M. and Wörheide, G. (2007). Sponge paleogenomics reveals an ancient role for carbonic anhydrase in skeletogenesis. Science 316, 1893-1895.
Jackson, D.J., McDougall, C., Green, K.M., Simpson, F., Wörheide, G. and Degnan, B.M. (2006). Ancient and novel secretome builds and patterns a sea shell. BMC Biol. 4, 40 (doi:10.1186/1741-7007-4-40)
Larroux, C., Fahey, B., Liubicich, D., Hinman, V.F., Gongora, M., Green, K.M., Wörheide, G., Leys, S.P. and DEGNAN, B.M. (2006). Developmental expression of transcription factor genes in a demosponge: insights into the origin of metazoan multicellularity. Evol. Dev. 8, 150-173.
Dehal, P., Satou, Y., Campbell, R.K., Chapman, J., Degnan, B. et al. (2002). The draft genome sequence of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis: insights into the evolutionary origins of chordates and vertebrates. Science 298, 2157-2167.
Postdoctoral Staff:
ADAMSKA Maja - The University of Queensland
CUMMINS Scott - The University of Queensland
LARROUX Claire - The University of Queensland
GUNTER Helen - The University of Queensland
