The birth of the world鈥檚 first equine clone, a mule named Idaho Gem, has been announced.
The birth marks a breakthrough after years of scientific struggle. 鈥淭he horse system has been a difficult system,鈥� says Gordon Woods, from the University of Idaho, whose team cloned Idaho Gem. He says equine eggs are 鈥渟lower鈥� and respond less well to activating chemicals routinely used in IVF and cloning.
Mules, the product of a male donkey and a female horse, are infertile, but the clone was born apparently healthy in late April. When asked why he decided to clone a mule, Woods said: 鈥淥ur major sponsor 鈥� is a mule enthusiast.鈥� The funds were made available with the condition that the DNA to be used had to be that of a mule, he says.
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Still, Woods says Idaho Gem represents an important proof of principle for equine cloning. 鈥淭he birth was natural, unassisted, and within 12 minutes he was standing on his feet,鈥� he says. Two other mares carrying cloned mules are very close to their due dates as well.
Million dollar stud
If the cloning success seen in mules is repeated in horses, the implications for the world of horse breeding, racing and other related sports could be enormous. Winning stallions can be worth hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars.
Woods thinks horse cloning could be very useful in cases where a prize-winning horse has been castrated, or can no longer reproduce. 鈥淵ou could clone that individual and pass on its superior genes,鈥� he says.
However, for thoroughbred races, which are by far the most popular kind, there is an international agreement that would ban a cloned horse from being registered. Other racing associations that work with other breeds have adopted similar anti-cloning policies.
But other cloning experts told New 女生小视频 they believe there will be a place for cloning in other types of horse competition which use non-specific breeds, such as the Olympics.
Journal reference: Science (DOI: science/doi 10.1126/science.1086743)
