His researchers come from around the world, but with heavy representation from China. Auburn has already developed a hybrid of the blue and the channel catfish. Growers currently raise channel catfish, but the hybrid fish are more resistant to disease and can survive in low-oxygen water. They also swim higher in the water, like blue catfish, instead of staying at the bottom of the pond, like channel cats. That makes them easier to catch.
Channel catfish avoid nets at harvest time, so the harvest takes longer and requires more effort.
Channel cats and blues don't naturally breed with each other. Genetic engineering could allow scientists to create a species with desirable genes of both fish. When scientists understand which catfish genes are associated with resistance to disease or with rapid growth, they can use DNA to identify the best fish and breed them. They could also graft the desirable genes onto a catfish's DNA during the fertilization process. When a new batch of mapped genes is posted, Liu gets inquiries from researchers around the world interested in his findings.