In response to Rusty’s statement: “We
as yet have no idea what this will do long term to the breed, life or quality
of life of these animals…” I beg to differ. Cloning large
mammals has been around for more than a decade now and we have overwhelming evidence
that cloned mammals live as long a and have as high a quality of life as any
others of their kind. As far as what cloning means to the breed, it will
almost certainly improve the breed’s gene pool since the high cost of
cloning means only the best of the breed will be cloned. Thus, horses
with desirable qualities, such as high endurance, will increasingly be bred
thanks to cloning which will improve the gene pool for the entire breed.
