A bioengineering lab in Argentina has successfully modified the DNA of horses to produce ‘super horses’ with traits of successful racing horses. Five new foals with these DNA traits were born in December and are gaining attention in the horse racing community. The lab used the CRISPR gene-editing technique to alter the DNA responsible for regulating muscle growth, potentially changing how the muscles in the foals develop.
The goal of Kheiron Biotech, the company behind the genetic modification of horses, is to revolutionize high-performance animals used in sports like racing and polo. This breakthrough could have implications for the billion-dollar horseracing industry, which has faced doping allegations and the deaths of several thoroughbreds in recent years. The technique could also be used to alter characteristics of crops, livestock, and even humans to adapt to changing conditions like climate change.
While the genetic modification of horses could lead to significant advancements in the world of sports, not everyone is on board with the idea. PETA UK’s vice president criticized the creation of ‘super horses’ as grotesque and driven by greed. The potential impact of this breakthrough on the future of horse racing and other industries remains uncertain.
