Cloning

[Ron]

For anyone who is interested in cloning, just Google "gem twist clone". Very interesting. This famous show jumper was cloned from tissue taken from his breast bone. I think it was taken after his death. The clone is coming to England purely for stallion duties and will not be competed. Interestingly the foals will have the same pedigree as Gem Twist. How freaky is that?

Pity we can't do this with racehorses.

 

[Ste D]

Now you're a clone,
With heart of stone,
Synthetic soul,
Brainwashed and cold.
You're just a drone,
Got no control,
Forced in a mold,
Processed and sold.

 

[Cyclonic]

Well that's one view I suppose.

 

[Ron]

Chilling thought STE. Is that from a song or did you make it up yourself?

 

[NassauBoard]

Ash - Clones

 

[Ron]

Cheers Nass. Is that James Blunt?

 

[Ste D]

Yeah it's a song by ash,not a bad tune!!!

 

[Cyclonic]

Is there a good reason for not cloning, other than the commercial interests of the major breeders?

 

[PNkt]

Problem is if cloning was allowed we'd just end up with a load of Frankel clones running! Where's the fun in that?!

Plus, I don't think enough research has been done into the long term effects. Old Dolly the sheep didn't live a normal lifespan did she?

 

[NassauBoard]

Problem is if cloning was allowed we'd just end up with a load of Frankel clones running! Where's the fun in that?!

Plus, I don't think enough research has been done into the long term effects. Old Dolly the sheep didn't live a normal lifespan did she?

No, but she did taste rather good.

Cloning would be terrible for the sport, we need to progress to the best racehorses not just clone what is the best at the moment.

 

[Ron]

It does seem like cheating nature but it may be the way forward for mankind on another planet.

Noah's Ark?

 

[Cyclonic]

Just because a clone has the same genes as his/her parent, does not mean that it has the same ability. The genetic breeding program has come a long way since Dolly. There is a company in the United States called ViaGen that specialises in cloning horses. The process is legal over there. But they can't race. The first horse off the "shelf" cost $150,000. Cloned Quarter Horse Cutting horses are allowed to compete in events over there.

 

[NassauBoard]

Just because a clone has the same genes as his/her parent, does not mean that it has the same ability. The genetic breeding program has come a long way since Dolly. There is a company in the United States called ViaGen that specialises in cloning horses. The process is legal over there. But they can't race. The first horse off the "shelf" cost $150,000. Cloned Quarter Horse Cutting horses are allowed to compete in events over there.

True, but you are going to reduce the gene pool massively, and in a species that is already so inbred, you are risking bringing massive genetic issues into the breed within a very small time period.

Not a science that I would want applying to racing, for all the research into Nature versus Nurture.

 

[Cyclonic]

But is it really going to reduce the pool Nass? Think of all those other great horses who can be now used. Imagine getting the use of Kauto Star as a breeding prospect. We could again use all those other grand horses and mares of the past who are now pushed aside by the Northern Dancer juggernaut. We're always talking about the ever thinning breeding pools, this is a way of blowing the gates wide open.

 

[PNkt]

I can see your point Cyc, but unfortunately I don't think that is what would happen. It is the same with AI, you'd have the semen from dead/retired stallions being used and people would stick to the same proven lines rather than branch out and use newer stallions/different bloodlines.

Cloning is also pretty pointless in racehorses. Unless you can replicate the exact same circumstances (same start in life, same trainer, same jockey, etc) you are not really getting the same horse.