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megapillowcase t1_j6aiv6r wrote

Reply to comment by scummy_shower_stall in California zoo clones critically endangered horse using 42-year-old DNA by speckz

It didn’t say sperm anywhere? If they used a clone of a 42 year old horse. This one is gonna have a bad time

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MOOSExDREWL t1_j6auhlq wrote

It wasn't cloned using sperm, but it doesn't mention the age of the original horse the DNA was collected from, just that it was collected 42 years ago.

> A California zoo has announced the birth of a critically endangered horse, a clone created with DNA preserved for 42 years.

I'm no biologist, but if I had to guess I wouldn't think the age of the original specimen matters much in this case.

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jules2689 t1_j6b9drr wrote

My understanding is very high level here, but cloning originally meant that the cloned animal would have a shortened life span. If the original animal was to live to 60, and was 30 when cloned - the cloned animal would only live for about 30 years. This hasn't held true for all clones though, and was theorized to be caused by shortened telomeres in the clones

This link explains it https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-cloning/myths-about-cloning#Myth6

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mermaidsilk t1_j6c5805 wrote

also horses do not live that long, they are like dogs. short life spans for how large they are.

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