Argentina breeds world's first genetically-edited polo horses

Record ID: 1955182

  • Title: Argentina breeds world's first genetically-edited polo horses
  • Date: 4th February 2025
  • Summary: PILAR, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (FILE - DECEMBER 27, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CO-FOUNDER AND SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR OF GENETIC ENGINEERING COMPANY, GABRIEL VICHERA, SAYING: "We are not inventing anything artificial; we take that natural sequence and introduce it into another natural horse, which is what nature does, but we do it faster and more directed.
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2025 10:50
  • Keywords: Argentina Biotechnology Genetic engineering Horse Polo
  • Location: PILAR, SAN ANTONIO DE ARECO, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA
  • City: PILAR, SAN ANTONIO DE ARECO, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: South America / Central America,Life Sciences,Science
  • Reuters ID: LVA008846503022025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Scientists at Argentine biotech firm Kheiron have produced the world's first genetically edited horses using a technique called CRISPR-Cas9 technique. The horses were born last October and November.
    "We designed their genome before they are born," said Gabriel Vichera, co-founder and scientific director of Kheiron. "By using the so-called genetic scissors technique, which are molecular tools that allow us to go to any region of the genome, make a precise cut, and make a change in that genome."
    Scientists took genes from an Argentina's award-winning mare, as the genetic base for the five horses and genetically edited genes to increase explosive speed while keeping the champion horse's other qualities.
    "There are certain muscle fibers that give it more explosiveness, a faster contraction, and the animal can have this greater explosive speed," Vichera said, adding that the goal is to incorporate these genes "into a single generation in a precise manner."
    Vichera said that this means the horses comply with current Argentine regulations and do not count as genetic doping or genetically modified organisms.
    "We are not inventing anything artificial; we take that natural sequence and introduce it into another natural horse, which is what nature does, but we do it faster and more directed," Vichera said.
    Vichera said this technique enables scientists to adjust the genome of any horse. Vichera said Kheiron is also working on modifying pigs so that their organs can be compatible for transplants to humans, and on cows with more protein or shorter hair to withstand heat better.
    (Production: Miguel Lo Bianco, Hugo Monnet)
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