World's first equine clone to compete in race Friday

Idaho Gem, the world's first equine clone
Photo courtesy GuardianUnlimited

By Erica Holt, Bay City News Service

July 6, 2006

The world's first equine clone, a mule known as "Idaho Gem,'' will compete Friday in a professional mule race at the Alameda County Fairgrounds racetrack, according to fair marketing manager April Mitchell.

A team of scientists from the University of Idaho and Utah State University cloned Idaho Gem from a champion-racing mule in 2003 and has cloned two more since.

Idaho Gem finished in third place at the Humboldt Futurity mule race on June 4 and his success at the San Joaquin Fair in Stockton on June 21 landed him the fourth-fastest spot on the 2006 racing mule circuit, according to Mitchell.

Other animals that have been cloned include cattle, pigs, sheep, mice and cats.

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