CLONES
30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne, Switzerland
30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 2
CLONING & PROGENY
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ETHICS AND CLONING
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FEI POSITION
Ordinary General Assembly, Estoril 2007
“The competitive equestrian couple of horse and riderare both acknowledged as athletes by the FEI.
The cloning of either with a view to competing atinternational level would be unacceptable to the FEI.
The FEI opposes cloning for it goes against one of FEI’sbasic objectives: to enable FEI athletes “to compete ininternational events under fair and even conditions.”
30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 5
CLONING WORLDWIDE
Conservative estimate in 2010 >110
Riding and breeding
Genetic preservation- Castrated males- Reproductive problems- Deceased (injury, disease)
Stud book RegistrationCryozootech, FRA
30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 6
WHAT IS CLONING?
A genetic copy of a donor/ model animal
•Harvesting of individual’s cells
•Sourcing of donor egg/s from donor mare
•Removal of genetic material from donor egg, before injecting model’s DNA into egg
•Activation and implantation of recombined egg to recipient mare for normal gestation and birth
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ETHICS One Side The Other Side
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GENETICS
CLONING
ORIGINAL COPY98% Identical
DONOR OOCYTE
Original and clone Sperm is the same Oocyte of cloned mare is not the same
? ImprovementOR
? Restriction
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REGULATING & TESTING
How to identify clones/ progeny?
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STUD BOOKS
Association Register Clones
Recorded in passport
Recorded in stud database
World Breeding Federation of Sports Horses (WBFSH)
Yes Yes Yes
Continental Studbook, USA Yes
Sport Horse BreedingAssociation of GB
Yes No Yes
Danish Warmblood Yes Yes Yes
Holsteiner Verbands Yes Yes Yes
France (FRA) – general policy
No N/A N/A
Belgium Warmblood Yes Yes Yes
Pure Bred Arab No N/A N/A
30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 11
REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES
Natural method Assisted Cloning
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EQUINE BREEDING
> WASTAGE> TIME
COST
WASTAGETIME
COST
Other Assisted Reproductive
techniques
Natural method Assisted Cloning
30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 13
WELFARE
WastageConsequences
?????
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PERFORMANCE
COPY98% Identical
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FAIR PLAY
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HORSE – RIDER RELATIONSHIP
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ETHICS OF CLONES IN SPORT
Clones No Clones
Natural Progression
Other Reproductive techniques, e.g. Twin
Embryos
Improved gene pool
Welfare – unknown consequence
Horse – Rider Relationship
? ID – DNA, Passports
Welfare ‘Myths’ Perception/ Image of Sport
Genetic PreservationPromote (genetic) excellence Natural Progression? Performance Effect
(mitochondria)
? ID – DNA, Passports
Fair PlayEnvironmental Influences, Equitation
Another Selective Breeding technique, cost & time similar
98% Copy
Business Investment
Clones Exist
Risk to ‘traditional’ Breeding Industry
Elitism: Costs & time
??? Welfare, losses...
Genetic Restriction
Natural ProgressionIndividuality of Horse Risk of damaging gene pool
30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 18
PROGENY IN SPORT
• Not Clones
• “Natural” / accepted breeding techniques
• Normal random recombination of genes
• No potential to effect fair play
OR
• Are there innate concerns regarding the welfare of cloning?
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CLONES & PROGENY
• Technology developed • Clones exist• Horses with Passports• Registered
? VIEWS- Clones- Progeny
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EQUINE CLONING PERSPECTIVES
• FEI Position• Worldwide• Technique• Genetics • Identification• Breeding and Sports Regulators• Reproduction • Welfare• Fair play• Performance• Horse –rider relationship• Discussion
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DISCUSSION
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THANK
YOU
CLONING