Caitlin Cooper
Ph.D Candidate, University of California Davis
Expert Bio
Caitlin is a Ph.D candidate at the University of California, Davis in the field of animal biology and is currently doing an externship at AquaBounty Technologies. Caitlin grew up on a small dairy farm in Massachusetts, which is where her interest in animal biology and physiology began. In 2009 she graduated with honors with her Bachelors in Animal Science from the University of Vermont.
During her time in Vermont, Caitlin worked at the Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the USDA Farm Service Agency. In 2010 she received her Master’s in Animal Biology from the University of California, Davis, and is currently scheduled to finish her Ph.D in December 2013.
Caitlin has worked in laboratories utilizing transgenic technology since 2005 and has conducted numerous studies on the effects of consumption of food products produced by genetically engineered animals on the gastrointestinal and systemic health of model organisms.
Studies, Articles and Answers
Showing 1 out of 1 results
Question
Q: Is genetically modifying salmon equivalent to genetically modifying plants?
A: Essentially, yes. In both cases, a gene that is intended to result in a new, desirable trait is inserted into the genome of the plant or animal, the gene provides the information to make a protein and the protein results in a new or enhanced trait. One difference involves the similarity of the new protein to the proteins produced by the target. Commercial GM plants today use a gene from a different source (other plant, microbe, mushroom, etc.) to make a completely new protein for the plant. Another approach is to add a gene that already exists in the plant to make more [...]
GMO Basics How GMOs Are Made