Group items tagged

first successfully cloned horse

was born in 2003

Today, there are only a few hundred equine clones, created mainly for breeding

a top stallion for in vitro fertilization can go for tens of thousands of dollars

most male horses in high-level competitions are geldings

a mare can bear only so many foals

most common use for cloned horses is to perpetuate genetic material. The original horse can travel and compete, while its copy becomes a full-time foal-making machine

2007 the FEI's general assembly decided that cloning was "potentially against the spirit of sport in that it was unfair

key factor in the decision was the high price of cloning, which has since come

federation determined that the clones were only 98 percent copies of the originals

the error margin of a full 2 percent was what ultimately caused the FEI to overturn the ban

widely agreed that environment, training, nutrition, and relationship with the rider have an incalculable impact on the horse's performance

American Quarter Horse Association won't allow clones

Neither will the Jockey Club, which registers thoroughbreds in North America

FEI has been careful to emphasize that cloning is a breeding technique only

only 300-odd horses competing in the Olympics, clones have to battle their way to the top just as traditionally bred horses do.

SMART LANDING PADS

Scoring the exact length of a long or triple jump can be imprecise and time-consuming

land in a sand pit

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a 2,016-pressure-sensor array to map where an athlete hits the ground

underneath the sand in the landing pit, a dozen or so of the mats could record the exact point of touchdown

computer could automatically calculate the length of the jump

HEAD-UP GOGGLES

Swimmers

with an integrated head-up display could broadcast a live view of the competition and help racers to better pace themselves

AUTOMATIC GOAL KEEPER

German research

has developed an automated goal-tracking system

Actuators around the net generate a magnetic field across the face of the goal. When the ball passes through that field, a chip embedded in the ball sends a signal to the ref’s watch within one tenth of a second.

RETRACTABLE DIVING BOARD

On a good day, a diver’s head misses the board by a couple of inches

famously, Greg Louganis in the 1988 Olympics.

In the one second a typical diver is airborne above the plane of the board, it could retract as much as three feet