🐎 Argentinian Scientists Create Genetically Edited "Superhorses"

Recently, the first-ever horses with DNA altered using CRISPR technology were born in Argentina. These animals received a small "tweak" to the gene responsible for muscle growth, enabling them to run faster.

However, in a country where equestrian sports are a source of national pride, this scientific breakthrough has sparked controversy. The Argentine Polo Association immediately banned the use of "edited" horses in competitions, arguing that they undermine decades of selective breeding traditions.

🐴 How Were the "Superhorses" Created?

Scientists from the nonprofit lab Kheiron Biotech in Buenos Aires used a champion stallion named Polo Pureza as their prototype. Using his cells, researchers applied CRISPR to modify the myostatin gene, which regulates muscle development. The resulting embryos were carried by surrogate mares, and five cloned foals were born with enhanced muscle strength, allowing them to run faster.

🐄 But CRISPR technology goes much further and is already being actively used in agriculture worldwide.

In the U.S., the company Acceligen has developed cows with short, smooth coats that are resistant to hot climates. In India, scientists have edited the myostatin gene in sheep to increase meat production. In the UK, the company Genus is working on pigs resistant to the deadly Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus. Meanwhile, American firm Revivicor has created pigs whose meat does not trigger allergies and whose organs could potentially be used for human transplants.

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