Scientists Announce First Cloned Horse

by Sherry Morse

Italian scientists have announced the birth of a cloned female foal named Prometea. Prometea is not only the first horse to be cloned, but is also the first clone born to its genetically identical mother.

Prometea’s birth challenges the idea that for the embryo to survive it must be recognized as different by the mother’s immune system. The mother’s immune reaction to a fetus is thought to be important for placental development, with inadequate reactions leading to the termination of the pregnancy.

All other clones born have grown in the wombs of unrelated surrogates.

Equines have proven to be one of the harder animals to clone, with the first cloned mule born just a few months ago, but the leader of the team that created Prometea, Cesare Galli, stated that the foal is healthy.

For each healthy clone born, there are likely to be many other animals cloned alongside it who did not survive. Prometea was one of only seventeen implanted embryos to survive and those seventeen were the only survivors of 841 reconstructed embryos. Only four of the implanted embryos developed into pregnancies. Often, animals that are cloned die in the womb or are born with genetic or physical defects.

The birth of the horse clone has led to inevitable speculation about the likelihood of champion racehorses and show horses being copied. Many of the top animals in these areas are geldings who are unable to reproduce, but could technically be cloned, with their clones being allowed to remain stallions.

A French company, Cryozootech, charges $5,700 for the removal, culture and ten-year cold storage of equine tissue samples.

Galli warned, however, that even if these horses were cloned there is no way to tell if they will have the same temperament and ability as the original animals. "Other factors such as training, the coach, their environment might have an effect," he said.

Additionally, there is no guarantee that the various horse registries would agree to register a cloned animal. In Thoroughbreds, for instance, horses produced by artificial insemination can not be registered, so it is unlikely that clones will be allowed in the books.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.