Genetically modified horses make waves, sparking debate in the refined world of polo sports
In the world of polo, a sport known for its prestige and high stakes, a new development is causing ripples: the introduction of genetically edited horses. The Argentine Polo Association has taken a stance on this issue, banning these modified horses from competition.
The journey to genetically edited polo horses began in 2012, with the establishment of Kheiron Biotech by biotech doctoral student Vichera and Daniel Sammartino. The company, which received financial backing, aimed to revolutionize horse breeding. The inspiration for this venture came after Vichera witnessed a high-priced polo clone auction in 2010.
Kheiron's first achievement was the birth of the first cloned horse in 2013. The company then used CRISPR technology to reduce the expression of the myostatin gene in these horses, a move aimed at increasing muscle fibres for powerful movements, transforming the horses into sprinters.
The clones were copies of a prize-winning horse named Polo Pureza. However, the persons responsible for the development of genetically modified horses in Argentina remain unidentified in search results.
Initially, these cloned horses were difficult to sell. Sammartino, co-founder of Kheiron, provided free cloning services to top breeders in exchange for some newborn clones. Today, cloned foals are sold for an average of $40,000.
Adolfo Cambiaso, a world-renowned polo player, played a significant role in popularizing polo clones. Argentina, the home of the Argentine polo breed that dominates prestigious competitions like the Queen's Cup in England and the Argentine Open, exported about 2,400 polo horses last year.
The Argentine Association of Polo Horse Breeders will monitor the horses for four or five years before deciding whether to register them as Argentine polo ponies. The Argentine Polo Association, meanwhile, has put plans to commercialize gene-editing on hold until they are fully accepted by polo authorities.
The production of gene-edited horses by Kheiron has raised concerns among some prominent figures in Argentina's polo world. The association's ban on these horses from competition reflects these concerns. As of now, five genetically edited horses, aged 10 months, are under close observation.
By 2025, Kheiron plans to produce 400 clones, which would make up more than half of all cloned horses born in Argentina. This development promises to reshape the world of polo, but the path forward remains uncertain due to the ongoing debates and regulations surrounding genetically edited horses.
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