• Question: would it be possible to mix sheep DNA with horse DNA and create a sheep/horse.

    Asked by R Conachie to Angela, Claire, Ian, Robert, Sarah on 13 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Angela Stokes

      Angela Stokes answered on 13 Nov 2014:

      Hi R Conachie
      Let me first say that a have only a small knowledge of taxonomy and classes which I am sure is the root of this problem.
      Hybrid animals are usually of two distinct species and are also usually sterile (with a few exceptions) and so can’t reproduce.
      I don’t know of anyone who has attempted to cross a sheep with a horse, but hybrid animals have been produced, but these are usually from the same taxonomic family however, as follows:

      male donkey/female horse = mule
      male lion/female tiger = liger
      male tiger/female lion = tigon
      male yak/female cow = yattle
      male yak/female buffalo = yakalo
      male zebra/female horse = zorse (also known as zebrula, or zebrule)
      male horse/female zebra = horbra (aka hebra, zebrinny or zebrit)
      male zebra/ female pony = zony
      So I think a horse/sheep cross which crosses taxonomic family boundaries (equine and ovine) would be unlikely……perhaps this is an area that you want to look into in the future?

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