Scientists create supercavals in Argentina with ‘genetic scissors’

Polo Purity was included in the Hall of Fame of the Argentine Association of Polo Horset Breeders.

Scientists have used the purity polo genes as a genetic basis for the five horses, editing genes to increase explosive speed and maintaining the other qualities of champion mare.

“There are certain muscle fibers that give you more explosiveness, a faster contraction, and the animal may have this higher explosive speed,” Vichera said, adding that the goal was to incorporate these genes “into one generation accurately.”

Vichera said this means that horses are in accordance with current Argentine regulations and do not count as genetic doping or genetically modified organisms.

“We are not inventing anything artificial, but taking this natural sequence and introducing it into another natural horse, which is what nature does, but we do it faster and more directed,” Vichera said.

Vichera said this technique allows scientists to adjust the genome of any horse. Vichera said Kheiron is also working to modify pigs so that her organs can be compatible with transplants in humans and cows to give them more protein or shorter to better support heat.