La mirror race with natural la

Idaho Gem (right) will race with Idaho Star (left).Photo: AP

The world's first horse-cloned creature will challenge its natural brethren in the next month's race in the Nevada desert.

Idaho Gem is a mule created three years ago by cloning a fetal DNA from a donkey and a horse. This pair of parents also gave birth to a mule racing champion.

Idaho Gem will run with a cloned mule, with the same DNA as it - Idaho Star - and opponents born from natural methods.

Idaho Gem, Idaho Star and another mule were created from the same DNA set in 2002, but have been isolated for two years. So their ability to perform can bring new knowledge about the role of the environment, diet as well as training to the development of animals.

The organizers of the race said that although they were able to carry the DNA of the former champions, it did not guarantee that these mules would succeed in the competition.

T. An