| 09/10/2020 | ionicons-v5-c10: 16 | Francisco Trejo |

San Diego.- Scientists from the zoo of San Diego succeeded in cloning the first horse of Przewalski, a horse endangered wild native to the steppes of central Asia.

Breeding horse was baptized as Kurt and now symbolizes hope for his species that was on the brink of extinction.

Which makes that Kurt even more exciting is that it was cloned from genetic material cryopreserved 40 years ago, reviving genetic diversity that was believed to have been lost decades ago.

This foal is expected to be one of the most genetically important individuals of its species, said zoologist Bob Wiese, director of biological sciences at San Diego Zoo Global.

We are hopeful that it will recover important genetic variation for the future of the Przewalski horse population.

The last confirmed sighting of a horse of Przewalski in the wild it was in 1969.

Fortunately, some of the horses still remained in zoos. But not many. A total of 12 horses formed the ancestors of a captive breeding program: 11 horses of Przewalski captured in freedom between 1899 and 1902, and another captured in 1947. Thanks to this breeding program, today there are about 2,000 specimens.

(With information from Science Alert)

Originally posted here:

Heir to the first domestic horse is cloned - Explica