Equine Cloning

This story features a couple of things close to my heart: Texas A&M and horses. It is a good article.

Cloning may be horse racing's next horizon

Industry won't embrace it, but some experts say it's key to sport's future


By: Mike Brunker
Horse racing editor
MSNBC
Updated: 10:37 a.m. CT Oct 26, 2007

A small group of researchers, entrepreneurs and horse owners is moving ahead with the cloning of horses, ignoring prohibitions against the practice instituted by the horse racing industry.

The retirement of racing’s stars — horses who have achieved a lot in a very short time — hurts the sport by removing the best-known competitors just as they're becoming household names. It’s as if Brett Favre or Roger Clemens were packed off to the breeding shed after one or two good seasons. But it's simple math: A horse is...(complete story here).

I don't see breed or other industry associations embracing cloning any time soon, but there is something to be said for propogating certain genetics. However, caution must be exercised to not narrow the genetic diversity. Just as in breeding, selecting for a single trait leads to a dead end.